Likud primaries are underway: Incumbents will decide today what the next Knesset team will look like

140,000 Likud members are heading to the polls across the country today (Monday) to choose the party's list for the next Knesset, in one of the most competitive primary systems ever seen.

Dozens of ministers, Knesset members, and new candidates are competing for a limited number of real seats, with every vote potentially affecting the internal map of forces within the party.

The contest is taking place against the backdrop of the eight seats allocated to party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside an additional seat for Minister Yisrael Katz, which further reduces the number of places open for election.

This means that the struggle for survival of the incumbent Knesset members is becoming one of the most difficult the party has ever known, with a large number of ministers and MKs potentially finding themselves outside the real list.

Polling stations will be set up at about 80 locations across the country - and two of them are expected to be particularly busy: Tel Aviv and the Nation Buildings in Jerusalem. There, alongside the polling stations, the activities of the various headquarters are also expected to be concentrated, with each candidate trying to bring their staff and ensure that they do not stay home.

A candidate needs about 19,000 votes to enter a place that is considered realistic based on the current situation, and 20,000 votes or more to stand in a place that is considered high.

Everything you need to know:

• At 10:00 AM, approximately 80 polling stations will open across the country, from Eilat to Kiryat Shmona. Voting will continue until 9:00 PM.
• Approximately 140,000 Likud members have the right to vote, and 124 candidates are running: 79 on the national list and 45 in the districts.
• After Netanyahu's armories, the fight is actually for about 15 realistic places on the list
• Netanyahu holds eight shields: in places 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26 and 29
• The estimate: About 20,000 votes will be enough for a realistic place, and more will be needed for the higher places.
• The average voter turnout in the last three primaries was about 571%
• Initial results are expected after a few hours of counting.
• Three sitting MKs withdrew from the race in advance, several others left for other parties.