The Latest: Turkey's Erdogan votes in Istanbul mayoral rerun
The Latest on Turkey's re-run election for the mayor of Istanbul. (all times local):
1:35 p.m.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voted in a closely watched repeat election for the next mayor of Istanbul, a contest that could have a political impact on his national government.
FILE-In this Friday, June 21, 2019 file photo, supporters of Binali Yildirim, mayoral candidate for Istanbul from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, attend a rally in Istanbul, ahead of June 23 re-run of mayoral elections. Voters in Istanbul return to the polls Sunday for a rerun of an election for mayor of the city. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis, File)
Erdogan cast his ballot at a suburban school, then was greeted by hundreds of supporters. He says "I believe the thinking voter will make the best decision for Istanbul."
The vote Sunday is being re-run after opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu won the Istanbul mayoral race in March. The result was canceled by Turkey's main election board, citing procedural irregularities, after the ruling party protested.
The two main candidates on the Istanbul ballot, Imamoglu and government-backed Binali Yildirim, also voted.
Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the secular opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP waves to their supporters outside a polling station in Istanbul, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Voters in Istanbul returned to the polls Sunday for a re-run mayoral election ordered up by authorities after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his political allies lost control of Turkey's largest city for the first time in 25 years. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)
7 a.m.
Polls have opened in a repeat election in Turkey's largest city where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his political allies could lose control of Istanbul's administration for the first time in 25 years.
Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu narrowly inflicted a shock defeat on a pro-government candidate in March 31 local government elections and briefly served as mayor for nearly three weeks. But the election was canceled following government complaints of procedural irregularities and a spat between the two sides over recounts.
Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the secular opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP waves to their supporters outside a polling station in Istanbul, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Voters in Istanbul returned to the polls Sunday for a re-run mayoral election ordered up by authorities after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his political allies lost control of Turkey's largest city for the first time in 25 years. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)
In a hard-fought campaign, Imamoglu focused on urban poverty after the country slid into recession at the end of 2018.
Polls close at 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) with preliminary results expected later Sunday.
Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the secular opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP waves to the media at a polling station in Istanbul, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Voters in Istanbul returned to the polls Sunday for a re-run mayoral election ordered up by authorities after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his political allies lost control of Turkey's largest city for the first time in 25 years. (AP PhotoLefteris Pitarakis)
Emine Erdogan wife of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Polls have opened in a repeat election in Turkey's largest city where Erdogan and his political allies could lose control of Istanbul's administration for the first time in 25 years. (AP PhotoEmrah Gurel)
Binali Yildirim, right, mayoral candidate for Istanbul from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, and his wife Semiha, left, pose for the photographers as their granddaughter casts his grandfather's ballot at a polling station in Istanbul, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Voters in Istanbul returned to the polls Sunday for a re-run mayoral election ordered up by authorities after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his political allies lost control of Turkey's largest city for the first time in 25 years. (Ibrahim MaseDHA via AP)