Election race begins as Turks vote at border crossings

Voting for Turkey's upcoming parliamentary elections on Nov.1 has begun.

Ballot boxes were set up at the Kapikule, Hamzabeyli, Ipsala and Derekoy customs gates in the western Turkish border province of Edirne and Kirklareli.

The officials said they did not expect "intensive" voting due to it being the end of summer which sees many expatriate Turks returning to their overseas residences.

Voting will continue until 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT) on Nov. 1.

In addition, a ballot box was also set up at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport for Turkish citizens to begin casting their votes at 8.00 a.m. (0500GMT).

One Turkish voter living in Germany, Sema Aslantas, said: "Let's cast votes no more," a reference to the June 7 general election in which no political party was able to take office.

Ibrahim Berber said he was living in the German city of Bremen and said: "I am thinking the elections are very precious and important; I wanted to contribute and am happy."

Turkish couple Huseyin Emeksiz and his wife Meral were among those citizens who cast their votes at Ataturk Airport.

"We are happy to have cast our votes and I hope the right [to govern] goes to who is righteous and who works," said Huseyin Emeksiz.

Turkey is heading for an early general election after no party succeeded in creating a ruling coalition after the June 7 contest.

More than 54 million people will be eligible to vote on Nov. 1.

Turkish nationals living abroad will cast their votes at embassies, consulates and border gates.