By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Likud party primary elections kicked off at 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday as three candidates and their supporters headed to the polling stations throughout the country.
Some 300 polling stations opened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning and close at 11:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) the same day.
Although approximately 100,000 Israeli citizens are registered as members of the Likud, officials in the party estimate that the voter turnout will be low, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
According to the report, all three candidates will spend election day campaigning at polling stations.
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, who according to polls is expected to win the race by a large majority, will vote at the Jerusalem International Convention Center and visit polling stations in Ma’aleh Adumim, Rishon Lezion, Ashdod, Bat Yam, Netanya and Tel Aviv.
Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the party’s Jewish Leadership faction, will start his day by praying on the Temple Mount and will visit polling stations in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh. He has about 9,000 followers, or some 10 percent of all Likud party members.
The third candidate in the race, World Likud Chairman Danny Danon, will vote at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds and will visit polling stations in Herzliya, Ramat Hasharon, Petah Tikva, Lod and Jerusalem.
The results will be released one hour after the elections finish.