Hundreds of thousands of Turks living abroad have been voting early as they arrive at Turkish airports or borders, anxious to play their part in an election they see as key to Turkey's future direction. At Istanbul airport, they joined long queues of citizens at bustling makeshift polling booths, juggling hand luggage, passports and ballot papers.
Moving November's poll to the height of summer has allowed non-resident Turks to vote as they flock home for annual holidays - useful, since Ankara does not yet let them vote abroad by post, Internet or at embassies as many countries do. If a straw poll of arriving voters reflects a larger picture, it could also play well for the AK Party which is widely expected to win a second term. Most supported the ruling party, praising its record in turning around the economy.
Germany's Centre for Studies on Turkey estimated 400,000 non-resident Turks will vote - a fraction of the 6.5 million Turkish citizens who live abroad, almost half in Germany.
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