UPDATE - Turkish president votes in presidential, parliamentary elections

UPDATES WITH VOTES CAST BY OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote in the country's presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.

“The voting process continues across the country without any problems. Our citizens in the earthquake region are also voting with great enthusiasm. We did not encounter any problems in that region too,” Erdogan told reporters after casting his vote in Istanbul's Uskudar district.

He wished for a “good future for our country and Turkish democracy.”

Erdogan urged all citizens to cast their votes without any concern, saying it is "very important in terms of demonstrating the strength of Turkish democracy."

Main opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu cast his vote in the Cankaya district of the capital Ankara.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Kilicdaroglu said: "We all missed democracy very much. We all missed being together very much. ... You will see from now on, I hope spring will come to this country and spring will always continue."

Kilicdaroglu thanked all the voters who cast their votes.

Meanwhile, Sinan Ogan of the Ancestral (ATA) Alliance also cast his vote in the Cankaya district.

“Let's spend this election in a festive mood in peace and gentleness,” Ogan said after casting his vote.

Ogan also urged all citizens to go to the ballot boxes to cast their votes.

Millions of voters started heading to the polls in Türkiye as the country's presidential and parliamentary elections began Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT).

More than 64.1 million people are registered to vote, including over 1.76 million who already cast their ballots abroad and 4.9 million first-time voters.

A total of 191,885 ballot boxes have been set up for voters in the country.

Every voter will be casting two ballots, one for the president and the other for parliamentarians, both of whom will serve five-year terms.

Voters will choose between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking reelection, Kilicdaroglu, and Ogan.

Muharrem Ince, another presidential contender, withdrew from the race on Thursday.

More than 30 political parties and over 150 independent parliamentary candidates will compete in the elections.

There are five multiparty blocs in the running: the People's Alliance, Nation Alliance, Ancestral Alliance, Labor and Freedom Alliance, and Union of Socialist Forces Alliance.