Only 28% of the 99,000 registered Likud members cast their ballots as of 6:45 p.m. in the party's primaries held on Monday.
"The computerized vote is taking slightly more time than we had anticipated, in addition to the delays in Jerusalem and other locales," party Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu said on Monday afternoon. "I have received reports that voters arrived at polling stations and left without voting. I call on them to return and vote."
Following the delays, the party is considering extending the polling stations' opening hours to enable as many members as possible to vote, Netanyahu added.
"It is important that everyone realize his democratic right to choose the Likud's team," he said.
The Likud leader took time in casting his ballot, and then told reporters in English that it was "a great day for democracy," in which "a core of new leadership" would get elected.
Asked why it took him so long to vote, Netanyahu said "I thought about every name very carefully. We have excellent candidates so it was a very had choice."
