Turkish referendum ends in victory for 'Yes'

ANKARA With almost all the ballots counted in Turkey’s historic constitutional referendum Sunday, 'Yes' won with 51.39 percent of the vote. As of 9.25 p.m. (1825GMT), unofficial results showed 'Yes' with 51.39 percent -- 24,789,242 votes -- while 'No' had 48.61 percent, or 23,499,390 votes. Turnout across the country was 87 percent. Sunday’s referendum asked voters to choose 'Yes' or 'No' on an 18-article bill that would see the country switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system, among other changes. Provinces which voted most heavily for either 'Yes' or 'No': 'Yes' in Bayburt (81.67 percent), Rize (75.56), Gumushane (75.16), Erzurum (74.50), Kahramanmaras (73.95), Cankiri (73.46), Bingol (72.67), Konya (72.88), Elazig (71.82), and Sivas (71.30). 'No' in Tunceli (80.35 percent), Sirnak (71.50), Kirklareli (71.33), Edirne (70.35), Mugla (69.19), Izmir (68.78), Hakkari (67.62), Diyarbakir (67.58), Igdir (65.14), and Batman (63.50).