Sinan

Türkiye has seen one of its most exciting presidential elections with the two strongest candidates current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nation Alliance's candidate and Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in a neck and neck race.

Presidential and parliamentary elections have begun at 8 am local time.

"As of now, all measures for healthy and secure elections have been taken by the Supreme Election Board [YSK] and its election committees in the provinces and districts," YSK head Ahmet Yener told the journalists on May 12.

Some 60 million Turks will cast their votes on May 14 to elect their 13th president and the 600-seat parliament in an election that many describe as the most critical one not only for Türkiye but also for the wider region.

Turkish public broadcaster TRT has released campaign speeches of presidential candidates and political party representatives ahead of the May 14 elections as part of a long-standing tradition.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, seeking to renew his tenure, urged voters to "choose trust and prevalence of stability."

The government has decided to suspend schools the day after the upcoming elections as they will be used as polling booths, Education Minister Mahmut Özer has announced.

"We will take a break from education the day after the election in order to prepare the schools for the next day in a healthy way," Özer said in a televised interview.

Voting ends at the diplomatic missions abroad on May 9 for Türkiye's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for May 14 at home, while citizens abroad can still cast votes at border gates.

Polling stations were closed in most European countries yesterday. However, voting will continue in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany and Luxembourg until late May 9.

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) has determined the order of the propaganda speeches of the presidential candidates and political parties on state broadcaster TRT with a lot drawing.

The 10-minute propaganda speeches of the four presidential candidates and political parties will be held on May 7 and May 13 on the TRT screens.

With around a month to go to the presidential and parliamentary polls, the election watchdog has approved the voting paper to be used in the presidential race on which the names and pictures of four presidential contenders will appear.

Presidential candidate of ATA Alliance, Sinan Oğan, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nation Alliance's candidate for presidency, met on April 12 for discussions on election security.

As a result of a draw by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), the places of four presidential candidates on the ballot paper have been determined over the weekend.