Do-over election ordered in Turkey's western town

DENİZLİ

Nearly two weeks after Turkey’s local elections, the country’s election authority has ordered a poll do-over in a town in the Aegean province of Denizli.

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, eight votes more than the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate.

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

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

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

The new elections in Honaz are set for June 2.