Overview

• Eight candidates are on the ballot, yet polling indicates a race dominated by incumbent Ersin Tatar and opposition leader Tufan Erhürman, with Tatar backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• A runoff scheduled for 26 October will be held unless a candidate clears the 50 percent threshold in the first round.
• The Supreme Electoral Commission lists 218,313 eligible voters, 777 ballot boxes, and polling hours from 08:00 to 18:00.
• Candidate Hüseyin Gürlek announced his withdrawal on the eve of voting, though his name remains printed on ballots.
• Tatar pushes for recognition of two separate states with close ties to Ankara, whereas Erhürman supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation consistent with UN Security Council resolutions.