Increase in ballot boxes abroad: The expectation rate will increase in the US.

Ballot boxes were installed in 174 regions of 74 countries around the world. There are 3.5 million voters living abroad and this number emerges as the largest constituency after Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. 1.5 million of the 3.5 million foreign voters live in Germany. If Germany were a single constituency, it would be one of the 7 largest constituencies in Turkey.

The increase in the number of polls this year and the establishment of polls in regions where voters can vote more comfortably play an important role in increasing voter turnout abroad. It is believed that the increased participation of Turkish voters living abroad in the voting process may also affect the election results.

The overseas voting process, which began on April 29, continues intensely in 9 regions of 8 American states. During the voting process, which will last until May 7, long queues form from time to time as Turkish voters from different states flock to the polls in groups.

While the number of registered voters in the US was 106,305 in 2018, this number has increased to 134,245 this year. The number of registered voters at the New York Consulate is 49,188, 22,118 in Los Angeles, 15,619 in Washington, and 47,220 in Chicago, Boston, Houston, and Miami.
In the 2018 elections in the USA, only 39% of 106 thousand voters voted. This year, however, the situation looks different. According to estimates, turnout in this year’s elections is expected to be between 50 and 60%.

The votes will be stored in secure rooms and will be locked and unlocked with the keys of the representatives of the three parties and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs simultaneously. On May 7, the votes will be counted at the polls, placed in unopened sacks, and shipped to Turkey.

One of the main reasons for low voter turnout abroad is transportation problems. This year the number of ballot boxes has increased. Until 2014, people voted only at the customs gates, then they began to vote at the consulates and this year the number of ballot boxes increased even more.

In 2018, the overseas participation rate was 44 percent. Although the parties have had similar voting rates in the last three elections, the fact that the HDP has not nominated a candidate this year is considered an important factor in the presidential election.

This increase in elections points to the importance of the contribution of citizens abroad to the democratic processes of Turkey. In the next elections it is intended that electoral participation abroad be even higher and the electoral processes be more inclusive.

The overseas voter turnout rate is believed to have increased this year and this may have an impact on the election results. It is claimed that the more effective participation of Turkish voters abroad in electoral processes will contribute to the strengthening of democratic processes in Turkey.