CHP candidate for Izmir votes in Turkey's local polls

By Yusuf Sahbaz</p> <p>IZMIR, Turkey (AA) – Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate for the Aegean Izmir province Tunc Soyer cast his ballot in Sunday's local elections in Izmir.</p> <p>Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot, Soyer said each election is an &quot;exam&quot; of democracy.</p> <p>&quot;Today, I think everyone will pass this exam successfully,&quot; he added.</p> <p>Sunday’s polls mark the first local elections in Turkey under the new presidential government system, adopted in an April 2017 referendum. </p> <p>Voting started at 7 a.m. local time (0400GMT) and will continue through 4 p.m. local time (1300GMT) in 32 out of Turkey’s 81 provinces. </p> <p>In the remaining provinces, polling stations have opened at 8 a.m. local time (0050GMT) and will close at 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT).