Some votes to be reassessed in several districts of Istanbul

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

In 18 out of 39 districts of Istanbul, reassessment of votes started on April 3, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

All votes cast in March 31 local polls in Istanbul's districts of Çatalca, Silivri and Kartal 1st Electoral Area are being reassessed whereas in 15 other districts votes that were initially deemed invalid are being put in the same procedure, the report said.

Those 15 districts are as follows: Küçükçekmece, Beyoğlu, Başakşehir, Maltepe, Büyükçekmece, Çekmeköy, Eyüp, Fatih, Tuzla, Sarıyer, Ataşehir, Beykoz, Şile, Bayrampaşa ve Ümraniye.

Extraordinary YSK meeting

Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK) had decided in the early hours of April 3 that the reassessment of some votes in seven districts of Istanbul should resume.

Earlier, the district electoral councils of Şile, Bayrampaşa, Ataşehir, Ümraniye, Beykoz, Fatih and Gaziosmanpaşa decided to reassess votes that were initially deemed invalid after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) filed appeals with the councils.

However, the Istanbul Provincial Election Council decided late on April 2 to halt the review and recount of these votes following an appeal by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

The AKP filed an objection over the decision.

The YSK then held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the Provincial Election Council's decision and decided to overturn it.

On April 2, the AKP officially challenged poll results in 39 district municipalities under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Click here for local election results in Istanbul according to Anadolu Agency

Click here for local election results in Ankara according to Anadolu Agency

Bayram Şenocak, the party's Istanbul provincial head, said it had found "significant discrepancies" in poll results.

High Election Board (YSK) head Sadi Güven on April 3 said their decision was for the continuation of re-voting process in some districts and added that the re-voting will be conducted for votes registered as invalid.

In the Istanbul mayor's race, Ekrem İmamoglu of the main opposition CHP, with 48.79 percent of the votes, currently has a narrow lead over the AKP's Binali Yildirim, with 48.51 percent.

On March 31, millions of Turkish citizens cast ballots in the local elections to choose Turkey's mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials) and members of elder councils for the next five years.