Millions of Voters in Turkey Cast Ballots in Presidential, Parliamentary Elections

(MENAFN) Millions of voters in Turkey began casting their ballots on Sunday in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections. The polls opened at 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT), with over 64.1 million people registered to vote. This includes 1.76 million who have already cast their ballots abroad and 4.9 million first-time voters. There are a total of 191,885 ballot boxes set up for voters across the country.

Every voter will be casting two ballots, one for the president and the other for parliamentarians, who will serve five-year terms. The presidential race features three candidates, including incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking reelection. The other candidates are main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Sinan Ogan. Another contender, Muharrem Ince, withdrew from the race on Thursday.

In addition to the presidential race, there are over 30 political parties and more than 150 independent parliamentary candidates competing in the elections. There are also five multiparty blocs in the running: The People's Alliance, Nation Alliance, Ancestral Alliance, Labor and Freedom Alliance, and Union of Socialist Forces Alliance.

The elections are seen as a crucial moment for Turkey, with the country facing a range of domestic and international challenges. The outcome of the elections could have significant implications for the country's political and economic future, as well as its relationship with the international community.

Despite concerns over the fairness of the elections and the state of democracy in the country, many voters have expressed their commitment to participating in the democratic process. As one voter in Istanbul stated, "I believe that voting is important for democracy and I want to have a say in the future of my country." The elections are expected to continue throughout the day, with results expected to be announced in the coming days.

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