İstanbul Provincial Election Council: Counting Ends, İmamoğlu is Ahead in İstanbul

* Photograph: Ahmet Bolat / İstanbul - AA

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After the local elections were held on March 31, the counting of votes was completed in İstanbul yesterday (April 1). İstanbul Provincial Election Council has announced that 100 percent of ballot boxes have been opened.

Accordingly, while Ekrem İmamoğlu, the candidate of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and İYİ Party for the Metropolitan Mayorship of İstanbul, has received 4 million 170 thousand 116 votes, Binali Yıldırım, the candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has received 4 million 145 thousand 708 votes.

The İstanbul Provincial Election Council has also shared information regarding the number of registered voters and cast votes in İstanbul. In the city where there are 10 million 560 thousand 963 registered voters, 8 million 866 thousand 563 İstanbulites cast votes.

While 8 million 547 thousand 5 of these votes are considered valid, 319 thousand 58 of them are deemed invalid.

A margin of 0.29 percent

According to the unofficial results announced by the council, the candidates and the number of their votes are as follows:

• Ekrem İmamoğlu, the candidate of Nation Alliance (CHP and İYİ Party): 4 million 170 thousand 116
• Binali Yıldırım, the candidate of People's Alliance (AKP and MHP): 4 million 145 thousand 708
• Necdet Gökçınar, the candidate of Felicity Party (SP):103 thousand 300
• Muammer Aydın, the candidate of Democratic Left Party (DSP): 30 thousand 766
• Selim Kotil, the candidate of Independent Turkey Party (BTP): 27 thousand 232
• Ersan Gökgöz, the candidate of Democratic Party (DP): 24 thousand 168
• İlker Yücel, the candidate of Patriotic Party: 20 thousand 667
• Zehra Güner Karaoğlu, the candidate of Communist Party of Turkey (TKP): 10 thousand 499
• Özge Akman, independent candidate: 2 thousand 452
• Doğan Duman, independent candidate: 2 thousand 2
• Aysel Tekerek, independent candidate: 1 thousand 520

According to these results, while the vote rate of Ekrem İmamoğlu is 48.79 percent, that of Binali Yıldırım is 48.50 percent, which accounts for a margin of 24 thousand 408 votes. (PT/SD)