Erdogan votes, polling stations in Turkey municipal elections close
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Erdogan is planning to follow the results from Istanbul and speak once the election's conclusion is apparent.
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President Erdoğan casts his vote at Saffet Çebi Middle School in Istanbul on March 31, 2024. (X photo, @trpresidency)
Officials declared that Turkey's polling stations across the country have officially closed on Sunday following the municipal elections.
Ahmet Yener, the Supreme Election Board's head, told reporters that the voting process was finalized "without any problem except for a few incidents."
Clashes between two groups resulted in one fatality and at least 10 injuries during Sunday's local elections in Turkey's southeast, Sputnik reported.
The incident, which occurred in Agaclidere village, situated 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Diyarbakir, reportedly escalated into violence and involved firearms, stones, and wooden rods. A bullet struck a local journalist's vehicle.
In further detail, medical teams and gendarmerie forces were dispatched to the area where the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment. Additionally, two ambulances sustained damage from thrown stones.
Erdogan casts ballot in local elections, encourages voting
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his ballot for Turkey's municipal elections on Sunday in Istanbul's Uskudar district.
Erdogan emphasized the significance of election participation, asking all eligible residents to show up and vote.
He called the election "the beginning of a new era in our country," while speaking to reporters.
He mentioned last year's hard-fought parliamentary and presidential elections, as well as this year's municipal elections, saying, "I hope that these will be instrumental in the beginning of a new era, a new century in our country."
The President routinely mentions entering a new "Century of Türkiye," and he expressed optimism that the elections will result in "a favorable outcome" for the nation.
Erdogan is planning to follow the results from Istanbul and speak once the election's conclusion is apparent.
Polling stations opened at 7 am in eastern Turkey, with polls elsewhere beginning at 8 am and ending at 4 pm and 5 pm respectively, while initial results are expected by 10 pm later tonight. Over 61 million registered voters are scheduled to cast their ballots.
The elections were held for 973 district mayors, 390 city mayors, and 50,336 mukhtars, or local government leaders, as well as the province general assembly and municipal councils.
Erdogan aims to regain control of Istanbul from rival and mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition party, who took control back in 2019.
A tense race is expected as Imamoglu is up against Erdogan's party the AKP's candidate Murat Kurum.
Factors that will weigh in on the results include the current economic situation, with inflation near 70%, and Kurdish voters aiming for political change.
