Party Leaders and Candidates Cast Their Votes

* Photographs: Anadolu Agency

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The voting procedure for İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral election rerun started at 8 a.m. local time in Turkey today (June 23).

As the ballot boxes have opened for over 10 million İstanbulites who are eligible to vote, political party chairs and candidates, who officially reside in İstanbul, have cast their votes as well.

President Erdoğan cast his vote in Üsküdar

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan cast his vote at Saffet Çebi Secondary School in Üsküdar.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Erdoğan said, "I think, the voters in İstanbul will give the right decision for İstanbul." He also stated that he would follow the election results from İstanbul.

TV channels stopped live broadcast while CHP's İmamoğlu was speaking

Nation Alliance's İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu from the Republican People's Party (CHP) also cast his vote.

İmamoğlu was elected the Metropolitan Mayor of İstanbul according to unofficial results of the March 31 local elections and received his certificate of election. However, as the Supreme Election Council (YSK) annulled the elections on May 6, his certificate has also been revoked.

CLICK - YSK Cancels İstanbul Local Elections

Ekrem İmamoğlu went to the ballot box together with his wife Dilek İmamoğlu and son Semih İmamoğlu at Haldun Taner Primary School in Beylikdüzü, where he was the district mayor in the previous term.

While İmamoğlu was about to make a statement for the press, the TV channels, which were broadcasting his voting process live, stopped their live broadcasts. The state-run Anadolu Agency, which instantly published the statements of AKP candidate Binali Yıldırım, did not do the same thing while CHP's Ekrem İmamoğlu was speaking.

Stating that "we are going through a very important election for Turkey and İstanbul," İmamoğlu underlined that "it is not only a Metropolitan Mayoral election, but also an opportunity to repair the undemocratic process imposed on the nation" by the annulment of İstanbul elections.

"Everything will be fine at the end of the day," İmamoğlu further indicated.

AKP's Yıldırım cast his vote in Tuzla

People's Alliance's İstanbul candidate Binali Yıldırım from the ruling AKP cast his vote with his wife Semiha Yıldırım in Tuzla. Yıldırım was also accompanied by AKP Vice Chair Cevdet Yılmaz.

Speaking to the press after casting his vote, Yıldırım said, "We will hold the decision to be taken by the people of İstanbul in high esteem, İstanbulites will make the right choice in the end. I believe it wholeheartedly."

Akşener went to the ballot box in Beylerbeyi

Meral Akşener, the Chair of İYİ Party, which is a part of Nation's Alliance, cast her vote in the district of Beylerbeyi. Casting her vote, Akşener indicated that she would follow the election results at İYİ Party İstanbul Office as of 6 p.m.

Temelli: Our citizens will give the answer at ballot box

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Sezai Temelli cast his vote at Halil Vedat Kıratlı Primary School in Bakırköy İstanbul. Accompanied by HDP Central Executive Committee (MYK) members and HDP İstanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm, Temelli made a brief statement for the press.

Stating that "a legal election was declared null and void and the ballot box box has been brought before the people", Temelli emphasized, "They are planning to win through such unjust and unlawful practices. But, I believe that the people of İstanbul and our citizens coming from all parts of Turkey will give their answer at the ballot box today."

Buldan: People's will has been usurped

* Photograph: Mezopotamya Agency

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan also cast her vote at Murat Kölük Primary School in Bakırköy. Greeted there by Peace Mothers, Buldan spoke to the press after casting her vote.

Buldan said, "I hope that the votes to be cast today will change the fate of not only İstanbul, but also Turkey."

"We have always expressed our belief that one vote can change everything and I came here with the same belief today," Buldan indicated further.

Concluding her remarks, Buldan stated, "I wish that the votes cast on March 31 had been deemed valid and we would not hold this election today. But, despite everything, we have gone to the ballot box again because the will of the people was usurped, the will of the people was not tolerated. I believe it wholeheartedly that democracy will come out of the ballot box today." (HA/SD)