9.50 p.m.
Erdogan’s AKP leads, but could lose Ankara
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP appears to be leading in Turkey’s municipal elections with more than half the votes counted. The party looks set to hold the country’s commercial hub Istanbul. But early indications suggest the AKP could lose the capital Ankara to the opposition.
With more than 194,000 ballot boxes counted, Erdogan’s AKP holds 46 percent of the vote, according to state broadcaster TRT. The opposition meanwhile has secured 30.5 percent, but is now leading in Ankara with 49.5 percent.
Losing the capital would be a serious upset for the AKP, which has held city hall for 25 years.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaves a polling booth during local elections in Istanbul, March 31, 2019. Photo: Lefteris Pitarakis / AP
5.58 p.m.
‘Monitor ballot boxes’
The pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has called on its supporters to “monitor” ballot boxes to prevent against fraud as the count begins in Turkey’s local elections.
“The only judicial authority we trust to protect the ballot boxes and the will of the people is the people themselves. Our people should have faith in their power and stand by the ballot boxes in order to monitor them,” read a tweet from the HDP on Sunday afternoon.
Election officials open a ballot box to count votes at a polling station in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, March 31, 2019. Photo: Ilyas Akengin / AFP
Polls have now closed nationwide in Turkey's local elections. The count starts immediately. Results are expected before midnight local time.
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2.38 p.m.
Turkish FM: Election determines future of the country
Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, voted in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alanya.
Afterwards, he told reporters that he hoped "everyone turns out " as this election will "determine the future of the country."
Photo: DHA
"Not just as a citizen of Turkey, but also the foreign minister, I consider this election to be very important,” he said.
The municipal elections are considered by opposition parties as a referendum on the ruling AKP of which Cavusoglu is a member.
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Photo: DHA
2:22 p.m.
President Erdogan encourages ‘normal’ election
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voted at a school in Istanbul. He spoke to reporters, wishing for a "high turnout" on Sunday. He ensured that the votes will be protected.
He also touched on the deadly shooting in Malatya province.
"As the president, I am deeply saddened by this incident. Justice and interior ministers have launched an investigation into the incident," Erdogan said. "I am sending condolences to the family of the two who lost their lives."
Erdogan said per their information, the election process is underway "normally" across the country and hoped for it to continue for the remaining hours.
"Local elections are the underlying strong factors of governance. I am therefore sure they will from April 1st become a powerful support for the central government’s authority," he said.
Polls close at 4 p.m. in the eastern provinces and at 5 p.m. in the western ones because of daylight.
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12:54
2 Felicity Party members dead in Malatya
Two Saadet (Felicity) Party members were shot dead in Malatya while voting in the predominately-Kurdish province, according to its chairman Temel Karamollaoglu.
In the Puturge neighborhood of Bolunmez town a tense quarrel erupted while voting, according to local media, resulting in the two deaths and one injury.
Karamollaoglu blamed AKP members for the attack.
Malatya is about 500 kilometers southeast of Istanbul.
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Photo: DHA
12:17 p.m.
Yildirim casts vote as mayoral candidate in Istanbul
AKP candidate for mayor in Istanbul Binali Yildirm described the voting process as a "feast of democracy" for the people.
Turkey is electing municipal representatives to serve in the next five years.
"We hope this election becomes a factor for brotherhood," said the former speaker of parliament and prime minister.
He cast his ballot along with family members in Istanbul
"Now is the time to serve Istanbul by carrying out projects," Yildirim implored.
12:17 p.m.
HDP co-chair defiantly casts vote
Pervin Buldan, a co-chair of the HDP, hoped the election "to bring good for our people and bring about peace and freedom for our nation."
Buldan added, however, during election campaigning "a lot of obstacles were created for us" by authorities and state-run media were not ready to cover HDP campaigns.
Buldan, who cast her ballot in Istanbul, said they will show their "defiance" by voting.
She described today as the day people will change the state-appointed trustees.
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10:27 a.m.
Security tightened during vote
Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told media they have taken strict measures to protect the safety of voters across the country, as he cast his ballot in Istanbul.
The main parties racing in today's election include the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican People's Party (CHP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and IYI (Good) Party.
Other smaller parties which have little influence compared with the aforementioned. They include the Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Democratic Left Party (DSP), Saadet (Felicity) Party, Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), and Vatan (Patriotic) Party, Grand Unity Party (BBP), and Democrat Party (DP).
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Voting begins in local Turkish elections
ANKARA, Turkey — Voting has begun to elect local officials across Turkey to elect municipal officials across the country.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is seeking to solidify recent electoral success, as opposition including the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) wants a check on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Party.
Official campaigning ended at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in eastern areas, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. elsewhere because of daylight. About 57 million people in Turkey are eligible to vote, including about 1.2 million new voters.
ANALYSIS: Can pro-Kurdish HDP pull off strategic upsets in Turkey election?