Election broadcast ban lifted at 7.15 pm

ANKARA

Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK) lifted the election broadcast ban at 7.15 p.m. local time (1615GMT) on Sunday.

The Supreme Election Council agreed to move up the election broadcast ban to 7.15 p.m. from 9.00 p.m. after it was understood that voting had ended in all electoral districts across the country before 6 p.m. (1500GMT).

Media organizations are thus be able to broadcast election results as of 7.15 p.m.

Millions of Turkish voters headed to the ballot boxes on Sunday for the local elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.

Voters will choose from 12 political parties competing in the local elections.

The major competing parties are the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Good (IYI) Party, and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Also taking part are the Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Grand Unity Party (BBP), Democrat Party (DP), Democratic Left Party (DSP), Saadet (Felicity) Party, Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), and Patriotic (Vatan) Party.

Writing by Sibel Morrow