Turks begin voting in presidential, parliamentary elections
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Supporters of Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rally in Istanbul ahead of the June 24 vote. (Photo: Reuters)

Polls opened on Sunday in Turkey's snap presidential and parliamentary elections.Turkish citizens began casting their ballots at 8:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT). 

The elections are seen as the biggest test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of his 15 years in power.

Erdogan, 64, is seeking re-election for a new five-year term with vastly increased powers under the new system, which he insists will bring prosperity and stability to Turkey, especially after a 2016 failed coup attempt. His ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is hoping to retain its majority in parliament.

Erdogan — who has been in power since 2003 — is however facing a more robust and united opposition, which has vowed to return Turkey to a parliamentary democracy with strong checks and balances. It has decried what it calls Erdogan's "one-man rule."

Five candidates are running against Erdogan in the presidential race. Although Erdogan is seen as the front-runner, he must secure more than 50 percent of the vote for an outright win on Sunday. If the threshold is not reached, a runoff could be held on July 8 between the leading two contenders.

Erdogan's main challenger is 54-year-old combative former physics teacher Muharrem Ince, who is backed by the center-left main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and has wooed crowds with an unexpectedly engaging election campaign. His rallies in Turkey's three main cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir drew massive numbers.

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Ballots for Turkey's presidential election are pictured at a polling station in Yalova, Turkey June 24, 2018.[Photo/Agencies]

(with input from AP)