Polls in Turkey continue peacefully, according to the Interior Ministry.

Foolproof security was ensured across the country during the presidential and parliamentary elections, according to a statement.

Armenian-origin Turkish citizens also cast their votes in Turkey's only Armenian village Vakifli in southern Hatay province.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, some voters in the village expressed their best wishes for the election result.

Village head Berc Kartun said there are 102 voters in the village.

"We hope to have elections free of clashes and accidents," Kartun added.

Voting started at 8.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and will continue through 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT). </s> Turkish voters go to polls in critical municipal elections

ISTANBUL (AP) — Voters in Turkey have begun casting ballots in municipal elections that are seen as a barometer of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity amid a sharp economic downturn in the nation that straddles Europe and Asia.

More than 57 million voters are eligible to choose mayors, local representatives and neighborhood or village administrators. The elections are being held as Turkey faces an economic recession, rising food prices and high unemployment.

Erdogan's past electoral successes have been based on economic prosperity, but opinion polls suggest this time around his ruling party could lose control of Turkey's large cities, including Ankara, the capital.

Erdogan has campaigned heavily for his party's candidates, declaring Turkey's economic woes "an attack" on the country and framing the elections on Sunday as matter of "national survival." </s> Voter shifting between alliances to be limited in Turkey's elections, experts say

What comes after the Turkish elections?

Presidential and parliamentary elections: Nation goes to the polls

Polls have closed in Turkey's high-stakes presidential and parliamentary elections, with 56,322,632 registered voters and 180,065 ballot boxes across the country.

Voters began gathering at polling centers early on Sunday to cast their ballots in the elections that complete Turkey's transition to a new executive presidential system that was approved in a referendum last year.

Voting started at 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and continued through 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT).

Turkey's justice minister said Sunday that voting continues peacefully across the country.

"Until now, we have not received any information regarding any disruption in the elections. Everybody is casting their votes in peace," Abdulhamit Gül told reporters after casting his vote in southeastern Gaziantep province.

Voters will be able to cast their ballots after they show their ID cards or any other official identification document.

It is forbidden to enter the voting booth with photo or video cameras and mobile phones.

Voters are casting two separate ballot papers in the same envelope -- one for the presidential and one for the parliamentary elections.

Eight political parties are participating in the parliamentary elections that include the Justice and Development (AK) Party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Free Cause (Huda-Par) Party, the newly formed Good (IYI) Party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Felicity (Saadet) Party and the Patriotic (Vatan) Party.

For the first time in Turkish history, political parties went to elections by forming alliances.

Turkey's ruling AK Party and the MHP formed an alliance (People's Alliance) while the CHP, the IYI Party and the Felicity Party constituted another (Nation Alliance).

A bill, submitted by the ruling AK Party and the MHP in February, stated that a political party could back another during elections.

In general elections, a political party must receive 10 percent of the votes nationwide for any of its candidates to win a seat in parliament. Now, only the alliance needs to pass the 10-percent threshold in order for the parties to claim seats in parliament.

Ballots are bearing the name of the alliance juxtaposed to that of the candidates whose parties have decided to proceed with forging an alliance.

Six candidates are running for president: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the alliance (People's Alliance) formed by Turkey's ruling AK Party and the MHP, Muharrem Ince for CHP, Meral Akşener for the Good (IYI) Party, Temel Karamollaoğlu for the Felicity (Saadet) Party, Selahattin Demirtaş for HDP, and Doğu Perinçek for the Patriotic (Vatan) Party.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Sunday that no discrepancies were reported during the elections as of early afternoon.

The delegation started its on-site observation in Lieutenant Kalmaz Primary School in the capital Ankara.

Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the election observer delegation, said they will continue following the polls closely until they end.

"There are no obstacles to the OSCE delegation, and we continue to observe the election in the methodology we employ all the time," she said.

The delegation will hold a press briefing at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara at 3 p.m. local time (1200GMT) on Monday.

Some 415 observers from eight international organizations have been deployed to watch Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has sent 234 observers, while the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCEPA) sent 72, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) deployed 35, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) sent 10 observers.

News media organizations are not allowed to broadcast any political advertising, predictions or comments about the elections until 6 p.m. (1500GMT).

Between 6 p.m. (1500GMT) and 9 p.m. (1800GMT), media outlets will only be able to publish official announcements about the elections issued by Supreme Election Council.

Selling alcoholic beverages are banned from 6 a.m. (0300GMT) to 12 a.m. (2100GMT) while consumption of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited in public places.

Foolproof security was ensured across the country during the elections, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry. </s> Voting is underway in Turkey's high-stakes elections that will complete the country's transition to a new executive presidential system.

Al Jazeera's Priyanka Gupta explains the numbers, the candidates - and why the changes to Turkey's political system are so significant. </s> Politicians cast their ballots on Sunday, as they emphasized participation in Turkey's historic presidential and parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım was one of the first politicians to cast his ballot at the Bahar Yıldırım Primary School in western Izmir province's Karabağlar district.

The prime minister, who was welcomed with applause by voters as he entered the school building, chatted with several citizens and posed for photographs.

After casting his ballot, Yıldırım wished a happy election day to everyone, underlining the importance of peace and fraternity among Turkish citizens.

"Turkey will continue moving forward to new targets [and] new horizons in stability and security with the new governing system," he said.

Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce cast his ballot at the Saffet Çam Middle School in his hometown Yalova in northwestern Turkey before heading to Ankara.

Newly formed Good (IYI) Party's presidential candidate Meral Akşener voted at the Sabancı Primary School in Istanbul's Beylerbeyi district. After casting her ballot, she also wished a peaceful election day to Turkish citizens.

Akşener said that she would follow the election results at IYI Party's headquarters in Ankara, adding that she was "very excited."

Six candidates are contesting at the presidential race while eight political parties, including two alliances, are taking part in the parliamentary elections.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan runs for re-election as the candidate of the People's Alliance, formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Other candidates in the presidential election race are CHP's Muharrem Ince, IYI Party Chairwoman Meral Akşener, the Felicity Party's (SP) Temel Karamollaoğlu, the Patriotic Party's (VP) Doğu Perinçek and the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş. </s> Polls have opened for Turkey’s high-stakes presidential and parliamentary elections, which could consolidate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hold on power.

Voters began gathering outside polling centres to cast their ballots in the elections which complete Turkey’s transition to a new executive presidential system that was approved in a controversial referendum last year.

Mr Erdogan, 64, is seeking re-election for a new five-year term with vastly increased powers under the new system, which he insists will bring prosperity and stability to Turkey, especially after a 2016 failed coup attempt.

His ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is hoping to retain its majority in parliament.

Mr Erdogan — who has been in power since 2003 — is however facing a more robust and united opposition, which has vowed to return Turkey to a parliamentary democracy with strong checks and balances.

It has condemned what it calls Erdogan’s “one-man rule”.

Five candidates are running against Mr Erdogan in the presidential race.

Although Mr Erdogan is seen as the front-runner, he must secure more than 50% of the vote for an outright win. If the threshold is not reached, a runoff could be held on July 8 between the leading two contenders.

Mr Erdogan’s main challenger is 54-year-old former physics teacher Muharrem Ince, who is backed by the centre-left main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and has wooed crowds with an unexpectedly engaging election campaign.

His rallies in Turkey’s three main cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir drew massive numbers.

Turkey will also be electing 600 politicians to parliament — 50 more than in the previous assembly. </s> Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared victory after receiving 52.6 percent of the votes with more than 96 percent of ballot boxes opened while the alliance led by his ruling AK Party securing the majority in the parliament.

Main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem Ince has so far received 30.8 percent of the votes.

 

 

 AK Party supporters head to Huber Mansion, Erdoğan's official residence in Istanbul, start to celebrate the election outcome as preliminary results suggest victory for the incumbent president

Meanwhile, the newly formed Good Party's (İP)' presidential candidate Meral Akşener gets 7.5 percent of the votes and the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) candidate Selahattin Demirtaş has won 7.2 percent.

Temel Karamollaoğlu for the Felicity Party (SP) had 0.9 percent of the votes and Patriotic Party (VP) Chairman Doğu Perinçek managed to garner only 0.2 percent of the votes.

In a speech at the presidential mansion in Istanbul's Sarıyer district, Erdoğan claimed victory and thanked Turkish electorate for their support to himself and the Justice and Development Party(AK Party).

İnce said that he will make a statement after Turkey's Supreme Election Board (YSK) announces provisional results

In the parliamentary elections, the People's Alliance formed between the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) received 55.8 percent of the votes with 72.1 percent of the total votes counted.

 

 

 Supporters of Turkish President Erdoğan hold Turkish and AK Party flags and greet after closing voting for the Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections in Ankara, Turkey, 24 June 2018

The National Alliance formed between the CHP, İP, and the SP collected 32.8 percent of the votes.

With the polls officially closed, electoral committees across the country's 81 provinces have started counting ballots.

Votes were cast in 180,065 polling places across the country.

Voting at Turkish customs gates with adjoining countries, which began on June 7, has also ended.

Votes by Turks living abroad who cast their ballots in 60 countries at 123 embassies and consulates will be counted at the same time in the capital Ankara. </s> Kurdish party breaches threshold

Sunday's vote ushers in a powerful new executive presidency long sought by Erdogan and backed by a small majority of Turks in a 2017 referendum. Critics say it will further erode democracy in the NATO member state and entrench one-man rule.

With 95 per cent of votes counted in the presidential race, Erdogan had 52.8 per cent, comfortably ahead of Ince on 30 per cent, broadcasters said.

Results being compiled by the Fair Election Platform, formed by opposition parties, also pointed to Erdogan winning the presidency in the first round with about 53 per cent.

In the parliamentary contest, the Islamist-rooted AK Party had 43 per cent and its MHP ally 11 per cent, based on 90 per cent of votes counted, broadcasters said.

In the opposition camp, the CHP had 22 per cent and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) 10 per cent - the threshold it needs to reach to enter Parliament.

The HDP's presidential candidate, Selahattin Demirtas, has waged his election campaign from a prison near the Greek border as he awaits trial on terrorism-related charges, which he denies. He had 7 per cent, based on 90 per cent of votes cast.

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Fraud fears

AK Party supporters clogged a main road in the capital Ankara leading to party headquarters honking horns in celebration. Erdogan was expected to address supporters from a balcony of the headquarters building later in the evening.

Election turnout nationwide was very high at around 87 per cent for both contests, the state broadcaster said.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed his supporters outside the official residence on Sunday. With more than 97 per cent of the votes counted, he apparently secured more than 50 per cent of the balloting, avoiding a run-off. Lefteris Pitarakis

Opposition parties and NGOs deployed up to half a million monitors at ballot boxes to ward against possible electoral fraud. They have said election law changes and fraud allegations in the 2017 referendum raise fears about the fairness of Sunday's elections.

Erdogan said there had been no serious voting violations.

"Turkey is staging a democratic revolution," he told reporters after casting his own vote in Istanbul.

"With the presidential system, Turkey is seriously raising the bar, rising above the level of contemporary civilisations."

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Erdogan supporters celebrate outside his official residence in Istanbul on Sunday. Lefteris Pitarakis

Erdogan, the most popular but also divisive leader in modern Turkish history, argues the new powers will better enable him to tackle the nation's economic problems - the lira has lost 20 per cent against the dollar this year - and crush Kurdish rebels in south-east Turkey and in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

Investors would welcome the prospect of a stable working relationship between the president and the new Parliament, although they also have concerns about Erdogan's recent comments suggesting he wants to take greater control of monetary policy.

Erdogan has declared himself an "enemy of interest rates", raising fears he will pressure the central bank to cut borrowing costs after the election despite double-digit inflation.

He brought forward the elections from November 2019, but he reckoned without Ince, a former physics teacher and veteran CHP lawmaker, whose feisty performance at campaign rallies has galvanised Turkey's long-demoralised and divided opposition.

Muharrem Ince, presidential candidate backed by Secular Republican People's Party (CHP) (centre). Kostas Tsironis

The state of emergency restricts some freedoms and allows the government to bypass Parliament with decrees. Both Erdogan and Ince have said they will lift the state of emergency as president.

Erdogan blamed the coup on his former ally, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, and has waged a sweeping crackdown on his followers in Turkey, detaining some 160,000 people, according to the United Nations.

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The President's critics, including the European Union which Turkey still nominally aspires to join, say Erdogan has used the crackdown to stifle dissent.

Erdogan says his tough measures are needed to safeguard national security.

Supporters of Turkey's President and ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrate outside the party headquarters in Istanbul, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Emrah Gurel

Reuters </s> According to Anadolu Agency, voting started at 7.00 a.m local time (0400GMT) and will continue through 4.00 p.m. local time (1300GMT) in 32 out of Turkey’s 81 provinces.

In the remaining provinces, polling stations will open at 8.00 a.m and close at 5.00 p.m. local time (0500-1400GMT).

Voters living in Turkey’s larger cities will vote to elect a mayor for the entire city, as well as district municipal mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils.

The voters will choose from 12 political parties competing in the local elections.

More than 44 million citizens are expected to vote at 142,777 polling places in 30 biggest cities, called metropolitan municipalities.

Meanwhile, 12.8 million voters will vote at 51,851 polling places across 51 provinces in Turkey.

Turkey is holding its first local elections under the new presidential system, adopted in the April 2017 referendum.

The previous local elections were held in 2014.
Voters in Turkey go to the polls for a presidential and parliamentary election.