Very high participation
The consensus is that the turnout will stay high for at least two more weeks. Early, unofficial results from the Turkish presidential race put the current president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ahead by a narrow margin of about 49.76 percent over his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Official data from Anadolu Agency, with roughly 90 percent of votes counted, showed Kilicdaroglu at about 44.48 percent, a figure that would trigger a runoff if it held steady. (Anadolu Agency)
The debate over recounts and the integrity of the vote began almost immediately. Election authorities in Turkey closed listening for exit polls around 17:00 local time on election night, and the state news agency began releasing first tallies. Opponents viewed this early data with suspicion, arguing it reflected partial results and could influence the public’s perception. By the time roughly 17 percent of ballots had been counted, some observers predicted Erdogan would secure a commanding win. (Anadolu Agency)
Faik Öztrak, spokesman for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized Anadolu Agency for what he described as manipulation after the unofficial partial results appeared. In remarks cited by the Bianet news portal, Öztrak said the agency was engaged in its traditional manipulation and noted that voter participation appeared to be at record levels. He stressed that the data received was very positive for the opposition and expressed hope that Erdogan’s tenure would end after more than two decades in office. (Bianet)
Very high participation
Across the country, choices were made with little public criticism, and turnout hovered around the 90 percent mark. The day unfolded without major incidents, aside from Erdogan making a notable trip from Istanbul to Ankara to await results. He signaled a desire to secure a renewed mandate. Polls, meanwhile, suggested Kilicdaroglu enjoyed broad backing and had the momentum for days leading up to the vote. (Election officials)
Kilicdaroglu urged the auditors from the parties supporting him not to leave polling stations until the final signed legal document had been delivered. On social media, he urged democracy’s heroes to stay vigilant and warned that perseverance would be rewarded by ensuring the will of the people was fully represented. He reminded supporters that the effort was about the power of the vote and the legitimacy of the outcome. (Kilicdaroglu social posts)
Erdogan, for his part, assured that the census process would remain transparent. He stated that the voting process nationwide concluded in a manner befitting Turkey’s democracy and urged everyone to maintain confidence in the ballot box until the final results were confirmed. The electoral process was described as robust, with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and international observers monitoring it. Nevertheless, questions about potential irregularities have arisen in earthquake-affected areas due to the challenges of updating census data. (Erdogan statements)
Areas affected by the earthquake
Erdogan also highlighted that there were no incidents on election day and emphasized that efforts were focused on enabling people in the earthquake zones to vote. The disaster, which struck on February 6, left more than a thousand lives lost and caused widespread damage. Erdogan noted that those living in the affected regions participated with determination and enthusiasm, underscoring the importance of showing the strength of Turkish democracy. He added that voting remained peaceful and orderly under the circumstances. (Official remarks)
In Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, Erdogan cast his ballot at Saffet Cebi School and urged all citizens to vote with confidence until the end of the day, stressing the critical role of every ballot in shaping the nation’s democratic future. The Turkish daily Sabah reported that if neither candidate secured at least half of the votes, a second round would be held the following Sunday, May 28. (Sabah)
Recent polls had shown Kilicdaroglu narrowly ahead of Erdogan. If the opposition wins, the campaign promised to revert the presidential system introduced in 2014 and realign it more closely with parliamentary governance. (Polls)