Voting process for citizens abroad was completed with record participation

According to information obtained from diplomatic sources, Turkish citizens voted in 5,114 ballot boxes installed in 151 representative offices and 16 centers in these elections.

Turkish citizens living abroad can vote in presidential elections, parliamentary general elections and referendums held in Turkey following legal changes made to the electoral law in 2012.

In this context, Turkish citizens voted abroad in the 2014 presidential election, the 2015 25th and 26th term parliamentary elections, the 2017 constitutional amendment referendum, the 2018 presidential election and the 27th term parliamentary election. .

THE ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION RATE OF CITIZENS ABROAD INCREASED

On the other hand, the foreign participation rate in the elections held since 2014 has been increasing.

The voter turnout rate, which was 18.94 percent in the 2014 election, rose to 50.9 percent in the 2018 election.

These statistics increased further in the Presidential Elections and the Parliamentary Elections of the 28th Term.

The number of voters registered in the Electoral Registry Abroad, which in the 2018 elections was 3 million 44 thousand 837, increased to 3 million 416 thousand 150 in the 2023 elections.

A significant part of the increase in the number of voters registered in the Voter Registry Abroad has occurred in the last period.

In March and April 2023, when applications increased, all foreign representative offices remained open for 3 weekends.

While 27 mobile consular services were provided in 2022 and 51 mobile consular services were provided in 2023, citizens’ domicile declarations were received at their locations.

THE NUMBER OF PHOTOS SET ABROAD ALSO INCREASED

The increase in statistics in the 2023 elections was also reflected in the number of ballot boxes and the number of representative offices established.

While a total of 1,186 ballot boxes were established in 105 representations in 55 countries in the 2014 elections, these numbers increased to 3,386 ballot boxes in 123 representations in 60 countries in the 2018 presidential elections and the 27th term parliamentary elections.

In the 2023 elections, 5,114 ballot boxes were installed in 16 centers in 151 representations in 73 countries.

In these elections, for the first time, the Supreme Election Board (YSK) decided to establish polling stations in 16 cities where Turkish citizens are concentrated, while Turkish citizens cast their ballots at open polling stations in these cities between April 29 and May 1. .

Voting can be cast between April 27 and May 9, 2023 for 2 to 13 days, depending on the corresponding representative office, in foreign representatives, and voting hours are determined from 09:00 to 21:00 .

Voting hours in 16 centers where Turkish citizens are concentrated were determined from 09:00 to 18:00.

While the total number of days in which the polls were opened abroad in the first round was 989, this figure was registered at 584 in the 2018 elections.

THE OFFICIALS DID AN INTENSE JOB

In the 2023 elections, approximately 4,500 civil servants are needed to take charge of the polls abroad, while 302 officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the Ballot Storage and Transport Commissions.

On the other hand, 286 people served as diplomatic couriers to send the ballots to foreign embassies and bring the votes to our country.

In the 2018 elections, the number of public personnel who served on the ballot box committees was approximately 4,300, the number of Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel who worked on the Ballot Storage and Transportation Commissions was 246, and the number of diplomatic couriers in charge of sending the ballots. to foreign embassies and take the votes to our country was 187.

Citizens in Turkey can vote in elections between 08:00 and 17:00 on a single day, while citizens registered in the Overseas Electoral Registry can vote at open polls in foreign representative offices between 09:00 and 21:00, for a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 13 days, according to the Representation Office: Cast your vote at 00:00.

The public personnel who participated in the voting process abroad and the personnel assigned by the political parties began their shifts at 07:00 during the election and ended at 23:00.

“WE ACHIEVED A RECORD OF PARTICIPATIONS ABROAD COMPARED TO PAST ELECTIONS”

Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim shared on his social media account with the message “Thank you…” and announced that the voting process at the open polls at Turkey’s foreign embassies has been completed.

Serim said: “Compared to the past elections, we have reached a record number of participation abroad. We would like to express our appreciation for your active participation in the voting process, which took place in the atmosphere of a democracy party, and for reflecting your most basic democratic right to the polls.” he shared his message.

Emphasizing that the votes cast at Turkey’s foreign embassies were brought to Turkey by security measures with diplomatic couriers, Serim stated that voting procedures at customs gates would continue until 5:00 p.m. on May 14.

While the total number of votes cast at foreign representative offices and customs gates is 1,798,505 as of TSI 18, this corresponds to 52.6 percent of all voters abroad (3,416 thousand 150). (AA)