Millions vote in Türkiye's presidential, parliamentary elections
A voter casts her ballot for presidential and parliamentary elections at a polling station in a government school in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AFP Photo)


Election time has arrived for Türkiye as millions nationwide started heading to the polls to vote in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.

More than 64.1 million people are registered to vote, including over 1.76 million who have already cast their ballots abroad and 4.9 million first-time voters.

A total of 191,885 ballot boxes have been set up for voters in the country.

Voters cast their ballots for presidential and parliamentary elections at a polling station in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Every voter will cast two ballots, one for the president and the other for parliamentarians, who will serve five-year terms.

Voters will choose between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking reelection, leading opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Sinan Oğan.

Muharrem Ince, another presidential contender, withdrew from the race on Thursday. However, despite his withdrawal, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) – Türkiye's election authority – has affirmed the validity of votes for the candidate.

Over 30 political parties and 150 independent parliamentary candidates will compete in the elections.

Five multiparty blocs are in the running: the People's Alliance, Nation Alliance, Ancestral Alliance, Labor and Freedom Alliance, and Union of Socialist Forces Alliance.