Turkish senior politicians cast their ballots on Sunday, as they emphasized participation in Turkey's historic presidential and parliamentary elections.
Main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce cast his ballot at the Saffet Çam Middle School in his hometown Yalova in northwestern Turkey before heading to Ankara.
Newly formed Good (IYI) Party's presidential candidate Meral Akşener voted at the Sabancı Primary School in Istanbul's Beylerbeyi district. After casting her ballot, she also wished a peaceful election day to Turkish citizens.
Akşener said that she would follow the election results at IYI Party's headquarters in Ankara, adding that she was "very excited."
Six candidates are contesting at the presidential race while eight political parties, including two alliances, are taking part in the parliamentary elections.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan runs for re-election as the candidate of the People's Alliance, formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Other candidates in the presidential election race are CHP's Muharrem Ince, IYI Party Chairwoman Meral Akşener, the Felicity Party's (SP) Temel Karamollaoğlu, the Patriotic Party's (VP) Doğu Perinçek and the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş.
Voting started at 8.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and will continue through 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT).
