ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Turkish voters are heading to the polls on Sunday for local elections in what is viewed as a critical test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since winning the presidential elections last year.
More than 57 million eligible voters will head to the thousands of polling stations across the country to elect mayors, district municipal mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils.
Voting started at 7:00 am and polls will close at 4:00 pm in eastern areas. Voting will take place from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in other parts of the country because of daylight savings.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican People's Party (CHP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and IYI (Good) Party are the main frontrunners in the elections, with smaller parties attempting to make gains.
Alcohol has been prohibited on voting day, and public spaces such as cafes and internet cafes will remain closed as long as polling hours are open.
The last local elections were held in 2014.