Turkey: 30,000 Syrians eligible to vote on Sunday
Posted June 19, 2018 7:00 am
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim is quoted as saying that 30,000 Syrians who acquired Turkish nationality are eligible to vote in Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Hurriyet newspaper and other media said Yildirim made the comments Tuesday in the city of Izmir.
Turkey, which is hosting 3.5 million Syrian refugees, announced in 2016 that it would begin granting citizenship to Syrians.
Meanwhile, voting at Turkish diplomatic missions abroad for expatriate Turks ends Tuesday, with orange sealed bags carrying votes already arriving in Turkey. Voting at border gates and airports will continue until all polls close Sunday afternoon.
The country's official Anadolu news agency said 41 percent of the more than 3 million registered expatriate voters have cast their ballots so far.
Muharrem Ince, the presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, is handed flowers to throw to his supporters following a speech at a rally, in Kahramanmaras, eastern Turkey, Monday, June 18, 2018. Ince is seen as a strong contender to end President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 16 year rule in presidential elections on June 24, 2018. (Ziya Koseoglu/CHP Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has breakfast prior to a rally of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Samsun, Turkey, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency.(Presidency Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addresses supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) during an election rally for the upcoming June 24, elections, in Samsun, Turkey, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency.(Presidency Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
Muharrem Ince, the presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, talks to supporters at a rally, in Kahramanmaras, eastern Turkey, Monday, June 18, 2018. Ince is seen as a strong contender to end President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 16 year rule in presidential elections on June 24, 2018. (Ziya Koseoglu/CHP Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addresses supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) during an election rally for the upcoming June 24, elections, in Samsun, Turkey on Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey announced its troops began patrols on the outskirts of the key northern Syrian town of Manbij following a recent deal struck with the United States and Erdogan confirmed the patrol began in his speech. (Presidency Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
A man holding a Turkish flag chants slogans in Istanbul, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addresses supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) during an election rally for the upcoming June 24, elections, in Samsun, Turkey on Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey announced its troops began patrols on the outskirts of the key northern Syrian town of Manbij following a recent deal struck with the United States and Erdogan confirmed the patrol began in his speech. (Presidency Press Service via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
People wave a banner with a picture of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a gathering of supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) sit at the party booth decorated with a picture of Erdogan, right, and modern Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, left, in Istanbul, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, (HDP) hand out leaflets at an election booth, decorated with pictures of jailed former co-chair and presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas, in Istanbul, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
A supporter of Turkey's main opposition party (CHP) chants slogans during a gathering in Istanbul, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, deemed important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken Sunday, June 17, 2018, a woman walks past by election posters of Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and his main ally, nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, right, in a street in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey holds parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, 2018, seen as important as it will transform Turkey's governing system to an executive presidency. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
People sit next to an election poster of Muharram Ince, presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, in a public garden in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, June 18, 2018. Turkey is holding snap presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24, more than a year earlier than scheduled. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.