09 June 2018•Update: 10 June 2018
By Aynur Ekiz
ANKARA
Turkish expats continue to vote in the early presidential and general elections in 22 consulates across Germany, Austria France.
In the first two days, a total of 72,111 expats have voted in the three countries and at customs gates.
On the second day, a total of 39,887 Turkish expats voted, including 32,521 voters at the foreign missions and 7,366 at the customs gates.
The number of voters on the second day increased by 23.78 when compared to the first.
In Germany, 22,281 expats voted on the first day and 27,933 others on the second day.
In France, on the first day 5,106 people voted and on the second day 6,406 others.
In Austria, on the first day 1,841 people went to the polls and on the second day 2,213 others.
In the April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters had approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.
Some 6,330 Turkish expats went to vote for the referendum at the customs gates in the first two days.
This April, the Turkish parliament passed a bill for early elections on June 24, in order to cement Turkey’s move to a presidential system.
According to the electoral calendar, Turkish expats will be able to vote in embassies and consulates abroad until June 19. They will be able to vote until June 24 at gates.
Voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time on weekdays and weekends at the foreign missions.
Over 3 million Turks living abroad are eligible to vote for the presidential and general elections.
Six candidates are running for president, while eight political parties are taking part in the parliamentary elections.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has served as president since 2014 -- Turkey's first popularly-elected president. Before that, he served as prime minister from 2003 to 2014.
Should he win the June election, Erdogan would be Turkey's first leader under the presidential system.
