Propaganda ban starts for Turkey's presidential runoff election
Starting from 6 p.m. on May 27, the propaganda prohibition has come into effect for the second round of presidential election scheduled to take place on May 28. According to the election law and the Supreme Election Council, no independent news or broadcasts pertaining to the elections shall be permitted until 9 p.m. on election day.
Duvar English
As of 6 p.m. local time on May 27, propaganda ban has started across Turkey ahead of the second round of the presidential election to be held on May 28. The voting process will start at 8 a.m on May 28 and end at 5 p.m. across the country.
According to the election law and the Supreme Election Council (YSK) decision, the 24-hour propaganda ban, which prohibits all news and broadcasts related to the election and election results, will be relaxed one hour after the polls close.
In the first round on May 14, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially received 27,133,849 votes (49.52%), whereas main opposition bloc Nation Alliance's candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu received 24,595,178 votes (44.88%). ATA Alliance's candidate Sinan Oğan received 2,831,239 votes (5.17%), and Muharrem İnce who withdrew from the race before the election received 235,783 votes (0.43%).
This is the first time Turkey will experience a second round of presidential election.
The media can only broadcast news and notifications coming from the YSK between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on May 28. After 9 p.m. all broadcasts will be free. Broadcasts might be allowed before 9 p.m. if the YSK deems it necessary.
Accordingly, the sale of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited from 6 a.m on May 28 until the midnight. All public entertainment places will remain closed on election day.
No one will be able to carry a gun in residential areas except those in charge of protecting security and public order.