The local administration elections held in 2019 and 2024 were examined, and assessments were made regarding Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir based on the election results, covering issues such as political participation, democratic legitimacy, and impact on national politics. It is also emphasised that the elections held in these metropolitan cities have consequences beyond the election of the metropolitan mayor.  In this context, the mayoral elections in all three metropolitan cities are seen as important areas of competition in Turkish political life.

The first section of the study examines the relationship between democracy and legitimacy, the elements of political legitimacy from a normative theory perspective, and the place of elections within democracy. The second section details the topics of popular sovereignty and the principle of elections, political representation, political participation, and the connection between these and legitimacy. The third section endeavours to comprehensively explain the electoral system and local elections in Turkey. The fourth section evaluates the 2019 Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir local administration election results based on data from the Supreme Election Board. Within this framework, analyses are conducted on political participation, voter preferences, and election strategies. The fifth chapter evaluates the 2024 Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir local administration election results based on the official election results. Analyses are conducted on democratic participation, voter tendencies, election campaigns, and alliance strategies. The sixth chapter compares the 2019 and 2024 election results in the three major cities and attempts to provide a detailed analysis based on the election results.

It can be argued that local administration elections in Turkish political life should be considered an important element in terms of democratic representation and political participation. In particular, the elections in Istanbul and Ankara take precedence over local elections in other cities in terms of their potential to influence national politics. The fact that Istanbul is a microcosm of the voter distribution in Turkey and that Ankara has symbolic importance as the capital has made both cities important for the ruling and opposition parties, and these cities have been seen as areas of serious competition.