LIVE: Turkey votes on whether to expand president's powers

A bed-ridden hospital patient brought by an ambulance on Sunday to a polling booth in Istanbul's Bakirkoy district to cast his vote.

"What is important is that our citizens who go to the polls today look at each other with respect and love regardless of their thoughts," said former Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday."

'Parliament is the shield and spine of democracy'

- Former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Whatever the result in the evening is, it will be representative of the national will," added Davutoglu who was forced out of office in May 2016 over disagreements with president Erdogan over the future of the country. 

Leading up to the referendum, Davutolug said in January this year that was "a requisite that the legislature and executive proceed on solid ground built around the principles of separation of powers."

Turkish journalist Ali Bayramoglu, a columnist and government critic was attacked by 'Yes' voters as he cast his vote at a school in Gayrettepe, Istanbul, reported Turkish media on Sunday.

Bayramoglu, a former columnist for a pro-AKP newspaper, promoted 'No' campaign in the weeks leading up to the referendum.

"Everyone has a choice, said former Turkish president Abdullah Gul on Sunday. "Just like the rest of the nation, we too, made our choice behind those screens."

'There shouldn’t be a Turkish-style presidency'

- Former Turkish president Abdullah Gul

"They [choices] will all be collceted together and that will be the nation's voice," added Gul who after completing one term as president in 2014, said he was stepping away from active politics.

Talking about the constitutional amendments in 2015, Gul said: "My thoughts on this topic are already known. These topics need to be debated knowledgeably."

More than 55.3 million Turks are eligible to vote on sweeping changes to the president's role.

Polling stations opened in the east of the country at 0400 GMT, while voting in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities got under way an hour later.

The last polls close at 1500 GMT with first results expected shortly after.

More than 55.3 million Turks are eligible to vote on sweeping changes to the president's role.

Polling stations opened in the east of the country at 0400 GMT, while voting in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities got under way an hour later.

“This is an important turning point in the lives of our nation," said nationalist movement party leader (MHP) Devlet Bahceli ahead casting his vote in Ankara on Sunday.

'This is an important turning point in the lives of our nation'

- MHP leader Devlet Bahceli

Although deeply divided over the constitutional amendments, the MHP's official line has backed the changes proposed by the ruling party.

 

Bahceli said he hoped the vote would be a "major turning point in the life of our people and in Turkey."

“We ran a beautiful campaign and embraced all our citizens. We are voting on Turkey’s destiny, ” said leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu ahead of the referendum. 

'We are voting on Turkey’s destiny'

- CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu

"God willing, the result will be auspicious and we will all have the chance to determine Turkey's fundamental problems," he added.

The CHP is Turkey's main opposition party and opposes Erdogan's proposed changes to the constitution.

"This is definitely not going to be a fair referendum. We know that the pro-Erdogan media will have a broadcasting policy that completes ignores the opposition,"  Kilicdaroglu said in February.

"It will be presented as if we are running against the state."

“The decision reached by our nation will be the most beautiful decision,” said Turkish prime minister Binali Yildrim ahead of casting his vote.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the tightly-contested referendum on expanding the powers of the head of state was a vote for the future of Turkey.

"We carried out some referendums (in the past) but this referendum is a choice of change and transformation for a new administrative system in the Turkish Republic," he told reporters after casting his vote in an Istanbul school.

'This evening our people will walk to the future by making the expected choice' 

- President Erdogan 

"God willing, this evening our people will walk to the future by making the expected choice."

Erdogan cast his vote in Uskudar on the Asian side of Istanbul, with his wife Emine, his grandchildren, elder daughter Esra and son-in-law Berat Albayrak, the energy minister.