Initial results being released in Turkey elections
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The ban on election coverage has ended as the first results begin to be released in the municipal elections in which local administrators will be elected for five year terms.
More than 48 million registered voters casted their ballots Sunday at 177,050 polling stations around the country to elect mayors as well as city and provincial assemblies for 81 city municipalities, including 16 metropolises.       Â
Traditionally in local elections, votes are cast for a candidate instead of a political party; however, the ballots cast for city councils are seen as a proxy for the general elections.Â
Voting started in the eastern provinces at 7 a.m. (GMT 0400) and closed at 4 p.m. (GMT 1300), while in the western provinces, voters were able to cast their ballots between 8 a.m. (GMT 0500) and 5 p.m. (GMT 1400).
BAN ON COVERAGE
A blanket ban on any press coverage that could sway voter thinking, including polls, and news on candidates or parties, went into effect starting at midnight on Friday.
The embargo on press coverage will remain in place until 6 p.m. (GMT 1500), then only press releases and statements issued by YSK, can be published after 9 p.m. (GMT 1800) on Sunday, according to Turkish law.
YSK has the however authority to lift the ban earlier than stated by Turkish law.
Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review will start releasing the initial results in real-time with its special election coverage on its website at www.hurriyetdailynews.com once the ban is lifted.