Istanbul: AK Party wins box in which Erdogan cast vote

By Andac Hongur and Unal Gundogdu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s mayoral candidate for Istanbul, Binali Yildirim, won the majority of ballots from the box where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote, according to unofficial results on Sunday.

The counting of votes in the ballot box at Uskudar Saffet Cebi Elementary School, where Erdogan cast his ballot, was completed.

Some 166 of the votes were in favor of Yildirim, while main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu received 104 votes.

Millions of Turkish voters headed to the ballot boxes on Sunday for the local elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.

A total of 12 political parties are participating in the elections.

The major competing parties are the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Good (IYI) Party, and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Also taking part are the Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Grand Unity Party (BBP), Democrat Party (DP), Democratic Left Party (DSP), Saadet (Felicity) Party, Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), and Patriotic (Vatan) Party.

*Writing by Sena Guler