Presidential Election Expected to Be Held on 19 October, Says Chief Justice Özerdağ

“Our projection is that the first round of the presidential election will take place on 19 October,” Özerdağ said. “Although no official decision has been made, our calculations are based on that date. Given the 60-day electoral calendar, preparations would begin on 24 August, at which point election boards will need to be operational.”

Voter Count Reaches 215,611 as of May

Özerdağ stated that the number of registered voters stood at 215,611 as of early May. By comparison, the first round of the 2020 presidential election had 198,957 registered voters, which increased slightly to 199,029 in the second round due to new 18-year-old voters.

“We continuously update the voter registry,” he said. “We receive data from the Ministry of Interior regarding individuals who turn 18 or are granted new citizenship. These are incorporated into the electoral roll. From 2020 to 2025, there has been an increase of 16,582 voters over the five-year period.”

When asked how he interprets the rise in voter numbers, Özerdağ responded: “The population of our country has grown compared to previous years. This increase in voters stems both from new citizens and young people reaching voting age.”

Final Voter Numbers to Be Confirmed by End of June

Özerdağ noted that voter figures will likely be updated again by the end of June. “There may be a further increase of a few thousand,” he said. “It is hard to provide a precise estimate, but I believe the increase will not exceed a thousand more voters. Perhaps not even that much. I’d rather not give an exact number now, as it could be misleading.”

Source: BRT