Electoral lists unchanged for Istanbul re-vote: YSK

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's top election council confirmed on Wednesday that voter lists from recent local elections would remain unchanged in an upcoming revote in Istanbul.

Supreme Election Council (YSK) chief Sadi Guven told reporters that all eligible voters who cast their ballots in the March 31 municipal elections would be able to do so again in a re-do vote to elect Istanbul’s metropolitan mayor.

He underlined that only the official committees presiding over ballot boxes would be changed to consist only of civil servants -- as is required by law -- and that the electoral lists had already been shared with the participating political parties.

Last week, the YSK announced a do-over mayoral election in Istanbul slated for June 23.

It accepted the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's objection to the metropolitan municipality poll results in Istanbul with seven votes in favor and four against.

The YSK said the decision was based on the fact that some officials presiding over ballot boxes in the province during the elections were not civil servants as is required by law.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31 in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other officials for the next five years.