Kilicdaroglu casts his ballot 

Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu cast his vote in the capital, Ankara, alongside his wife, Selvi Kilicdaroglu.

After voting, he said that despite a "rough" election he is hopeful. 

"I invite all my citizens to cast their votes to get rid of an authoritarian government," he told reporters.

"I trust our nation's common sense and the democracy will definitely come to this country. I believe that everyone will be with peace of mind in the streets of this country and be able to freely critique the politicians after today's election."

Analysts expected Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), to win the presidency in the first round of voting, but he underperformed opinion poll projections and came second with 44.9 perent of the vote. 

A significant 2.5 million-vote margin separated him from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who secured 49.5 percent.