Turkish Cypriots begin voting for president

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus 

Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus begin voting to elect their president, as polls have opened Sunday morning. 

Turkish Cypriots will exercise their voting rights in the country’s seventh presidential election, in which seven candidates, including five independents are running.

Among the seven candidates is incumbent Dervis Eroglu, who is supported by the National Unity Party and Democratic Party-National Forces.

Independent Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay, Republican Turkish Party-United Forces candidate and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Speaker Sibel Siber, Cyprus Socialist party candidate Mustafa Onurer and independent candidates, Mustafa Ulas, Mustafa Akinci and Arif Salih Kirdag are the other contenders.

Polls will close close at 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) and unofficial results are expected to be announced by 10 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). 

Some 176,912 voters are expected to cast their votes in 693 ballot boxes throughout the country. 

Three trained attendants and observers from political parties will stand by each ballot box in the country. 

To become president, a candidate needs to gain more than 50 percent of the votes. If none of the candidates reach this percentage of votes, a second round will be held  on April 26 between the two candidates that gained the most votes.