Only 40 percent of Likud voters cast their ballots in the party's primaries on Tuesday, Israel Radio reported, in an election that party Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to win easily.

While Netanyahu is expected to win the race by a large majority, according to the polls, his rival far-rightist Moshe Feiglin, who heads Likud's religious faction, can expect a high voter turnout from his supporters. The low voter turnout was therefore expected to work in Feiglin's favor.

This apparently prompted Netanyahu to urge all potential voters to cast a ballot. Political sources said Netanyahu was concerned that a low turnout by supporters of other candidates, coupled with a heavy vote by Feiglin supporters, might create a distorted image of the Likud.