Unofficial final results of local government elections held in Türkiye have been announced, Ednews reports.
More than 99 percent of ballot boxes are open.
According to the results, the Republican People's Party (CHP) is in first place with 37.71 percent, while the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) is in second place with 35.53 percent.
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The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) were in a neck-and-neck race in the March 31 local elections on Sunday, according to preliminary results, Ednews reports citing Daily Sabah.
The CHP was leading the elections across Türkiye, with over 37.66% of the votes, followed by the AK Party at 36.71%, with over 55% of the votes counted.
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Polling stations across Türkiye closed on Sunday as voting in the country's local elections ended at 5 p.m, Ednews reports citing Anadolu Agency.
Candidates from a total of 34 political parties competed in the elections, with over 206,000 polling stations set up across the country.
Voters living in Türkiye's larger cities cast their votes for metropolitan municipality mayor, municipality mayor, city council members, as well as mukhtars and elder councils. Those cities include the capital Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir — the nation’s three largest cities by population — as well as Adana, Antalya, Aydin, Balikesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag, Trabzon, and Van.
Ahmet Yener, chairman of the Turkish Supreme Election Council, said that the results are being entered into the SECSIS election system and that the council shares all data entries with the political parties.
Regarding the broadcast ban, he said that the council will meet soon to decide at what time the ban will be lifted.
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Polling in Türkiye’s local elections began Sunday with more than 61 million voters eligible to cast ballots in the country's 81 provinces, Ednews informs via Anadolu Agency.
Voting started at 7 a.m. local time (GMT+3) and will continue through 4 p.m. in 32 eastern provinces and in the remaining provinces, polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.
Some 1.32 million young people are voting for the first time. With candidates from 34 political parties competing, more than 206,000 polling stations have been set up nationwide.
A total of 81 provincial, 973 district, and 390 township mayors along with 50,336 mukhtars, as well as provincial general assembly and municipal council membership elections will be elected.
Voters living in larger cities are casting votes for metropolitan municipality mayor, municipality mayor, municipal council membership, as well as mukhtars and elder council. Those cities are Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Aydin, Balikesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag, Trabzon and Van.
In other provinces, voters are casting their votes for provincial council membership, municipal mayor, municipal council membership, mukhtars and elder council. In villages, votes will be cast for provincial council membership, mukhtars and elder council.
The major competing parties are the governing Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Good (IYI) Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party (DEM Party).
Other parties are the Left Party, Great Unity Party, Homeland Party, Motherland Party, Democratic Left Party, Welfare Party, Communist Party of Türkiye, Anatolian Union Party, Victory Party, Peoples' Liberation Party, Communist Movement of Türkiye, Independent Türkiye Party, Future Party, New Türkiye Party, Labor Party, Free Cause Party, Rights and Freedoms Party, Ocak Party, Justice Union Party, Democrat Party, Power Union Party, National Path Party, Justice Party, Bright Democracy Party, Türkiye Workers' Party, Democracy and Progress Party, Felicity Party and Homeland Party.
Election campaigns ended Saturday and a broadcast ban took effect across the country ahead of the elections.
According to the ban imposed by the Supreme Election Council (YSK), media organizations will not be allowed to broadcast political advertising, predictions or comments about the polls until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The YSK reserves the right to lift the bans before 9 p.m. on Sunday.
