Turkey: Do-over election ordered in western town

By Aylin Sirikli

ANKARA (AA) - Nearly two weeks after Turkey’s local elections, the country’s election authority has ordered a poll do-over in a town in Denizli, western Turkey.

In the March 31 election, according to unofficial results, the candidate from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) won the mayor’s race in the town of Honaz with 9,389 votes, just eight votes more than the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party candidate.

After the AK Party objected to the Provincial Election Council, a recount of 41 ballot boxes narrowed the difference to just three votes, but did not change the outcome.

Objections by both parties led to a recount of invalid votes, narrowing the vote margin to just a single ballot.

When a discrepancy between the number of votes and eligible voters emerged, the AK Party filed another objection, leading the election authority to order fresh polls.

The new elections in Honaz are set for June 2.

* Writing by Sena Guler