TEL AVIV (May 17) - While party leaders, pundits, and political junkies have been eagerly looking forward to the excitement of today's elections, much of the country has been getting excited for another reason completely - the prospect of enjoying a beautiful summer day devoted purely to enjoyment and relaxation.

Aside from the few minutes in the polling booth, Election Day is a rare event for Israelis, who don't often get to experience a work holiday that is completely free of religious duties, with the exception of Independence Day. Better still, due to the early election date, this year's polling falls in the sunny month of May instead of the autumn cool of November. So across the country, families have been planning special picnics and get-togethers, in order to take advantage of this unusual event.

"It's a unique opportunity, especially for those of us who are Orthodox and can't travel on Friday evening, Saturday, or a religious holiday," said Lea Cohen, a Ra'anana mother of four. "For once, we have the day off, and we can really travel somewhere and do something fun."

In Cohen's case, a family member has organized a family day cruise in honor of an aunt who is in her eighties. She and her husband will be bringing their daughters to Jaffa to join 120 other family members for a day on the Mediterranean - after they vote, of course.

The most difficult part of the day, she surmises, will be working out how to get to the polls and vote with their four young children underfoot.

"I haven't figured out quite how we'll swing it," she said. "I suppose we'll take them with us and let them learn about democracy."

And not just families have planned to gather today - public relations executive Efrat Gurman moved into her new Tel Aviv home a month ago, but decided to save the official housewarming party for today. She invited more than 100 of her friends to a barbecue between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

"It's a great time for a party. No one is working, and during these hours the tension over the elections is building and no one wants to be alone," she says.

Gurman harbors no fears of political arguments spoiling the atmosphere.

"Look, most of my crowd are left-wing Tel Aviv people, so at least for the moment, when you look at the polls, we have something to celebrate. And it's also good for us to get together so we can pray - everyone can pray in my new garden for a [One Israel leader Ehud] Barak victory."

But Gurman's party and the rest of the recreational activities will cease with the closing of the polls at 10 p.m., since the best show in town will occur on television screens when the election returns come in. Some places of entertainment have recognized this fact - unwilling to compete with the real-life drama, Habimah Theater has chosen to feature its scheduled plays at 5 p.m., instead of their regular evening times.

Not everyone will be taking the day off. While his wife and children picnic at the beach near their Herzliya home, attorney Jonathan Gross will be at his desk in Tel Aviv. "That's the difference between salaried employees and those of us who have our own businesses," he said. "If I take the day off on Monday, I'll just have more work piled on my desk Tuesday, and in any case, this is a shortened week because Thursday, the eve of Shavuot, is a short day."

Gross says that he doesn't expect to feel left out of the celebration. "Come on," he scoffs, "it's unbelievable, the fact that people get a whole day off of work to do something that takes exactly five minutes. With the polls open till 10 at night, how many people really need a vacation day in order to vote? It costs the economy so much money and for nothing. They don't do this in the United States, why should they do it here? It's ridiculous, there's no real reason for it, except as an excuse for a party."