Record turnout for CHP primary!
As intense interest in Ekrem İmamoğlu continues in the CHP primary to determine its presidential candidate, more than 11 million people had cast their votes as of March 23. Citizens flocked to the polls following İmamoğlu's arrest, reflecting their democratic will at the ballot box.
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The Republican People's Party (CHP) saw a massive turnout for the primary election held to determine its presidential candidate. Citizens flocked to the polls to vote for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is participating as the sole candidate in this election, following his arrest on March 23.
İmamoğlu was detained after a dawn raid on his home on March 19 and was arrested on March 23 as part of a "financial crimes" investigation by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Despite this, citizens wishing to vote for İmamoğlu in the CHP primary to determine the presidential candidate headed to the ballot boxes, showing a high level of participation.
BALLOT BOXES SET UP IN CHP
A total of 11,920 ballot boxes were set up in 81 provinces and 973 districts for the CHP primary. Of these, 5,960 were for party members, and 5,960 were "solidarity ballot boxes" set up for citizens who are not party members.
RECORD BROKEN
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in a statement made after casting his vote at the ballot box set up in Saraçhane, had announced that approximately 10 million citizens had voted. As of 15:30 on March 23, the voting process broke a record with more than 11 million participants.