The referendum, which was overshadowed by the deaths of soldiers and civilians in Hakkari province yesterday (21 October), ended in approval for the constitutional change suggested. 69 percent of the voters said "yes", and 31 percent said "no". 

Of the rougly 42.5 million voters, around 28.7 million voted, a turnout of 67 percent. 634,102 ballot papers were found to be invalid.

After the ballot boxes were closed at 4pm (in 32 provinces in the East) and 5pm (in 49 provinces in the West), the counting began.

Seven provinces voted "no" 

The highest vote in favour of the changes was in Bitlis, in the south-east of Turkey, where 97.57 percent of the votes said "yes". The highest vote against the changes came from Kirklareli, the province to the very north-east of Turkey and bordering on Bulgaria. There 77.64 percent opposed the changes.

The provinces where the majority voted "no" were: Izmir, Aydin, Mugla, Edirne, Tekirdag, Kirklareli and Tunceli.

Four questions asked 

The voters were asked to vote "yes" or "no" to four questions at once:

• Should the time in office for the President be reduced to five years [instead of seven]?
• Should the President be elected by the people and be able to be elected twice in a row?
• Should general elections be held every four years?
• Should it be enough for all general assemblies of the Parliament when a third of the total number of MPs, that is 184 people, is present?

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) had called on people to vote "yes". The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had called on its voters to use their "no" vote, while the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), called on its voters to boycott the referendum. (EK/AG)