Info

Turkey

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 4
Verified:	2009/09/02

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries g. Other
Comments:	The following rules shall be observed for the determination of the election districts of the provinces: a) Election districts shall be formed so that every election district elects an equal number of deputies or a number of deputies as close as possible. b) The scope of each election district shall be the same as the administrative scope of the concerned county to the extent possible c) The numbers of inhabitants and means of transportation shall be taken into account when several counties are gathered into one election district...
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 4
Verified:	2009/09/14

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	e. Electoral Management Body (EMB)
Comments:	The election districts and the number of deputies to be elected by each election are determined according to article 4 of the Parliamentary Elections Law and announced through the Official Gazette, radio and TV by the Supreme Board of Elections within 6 months from the announcement of the results of the census.
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 5
Verified:	2009/09/14

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The President of the Republic shall be elected for a term of office of seven years by the Turkish Grand National Assembly from among its own members who are over 40 years of age and who have completed their higher education or from among Turkish citizens who fulfill these requirements and are eligible to be deputies. The President of the Republic shall be elected by a two-thirds majority of the total number of members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and by secret ballot. If the Turkish Grand National Assembly is not in session, it shall be summoned immediately to meet. The election of the President of the Republic shall begin thirty days before the term of office of the incumbent President of the Republic expires or ten days after the Presidency falls vacant, and shall be completed within thirty days of the beginning of the election. Candidates shall be declared to the Bureau of the Assembly within the first ten days of this period, and elections shall be completed within the remaining twenty days. If a two-thirds majority of the total number of members cannot be obtained in the first two ballots, between which there shall be at least a three-day interval, a third ballot shall be held and the candidate who receives the absolute majority of votes of the total number of members shall be elected President of the Republic. If an absolute majority of votes of the total number of members is not obtained in the third ballot, a fourth ballot will be held between the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes in the third ballot; if the President of the Republic cannot be elected by an absolute majority of the total number of members in this ballot, new general elections for the Turkish Grand National Assembly shall be held immediately. The term of office of the incumbent President of the Republic shall continue until the President-elect takes office.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 101:1 & 102.
Verified:	2009/09/02

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	Appointed by the Head of State (the President).
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 104 b & 109
Verified:	2009/09/02

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 101-108.
Verified:	2009/09/02

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:	The Grand National Assembly consists of 550 members.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 75
Verified:	2009/09/02

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 2
Verified:	2009/09/02

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey; Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers; Parliamentary Elections Law
Verified:	2009/09/02

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections d. Referendums
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey; Parliamentary Elections Law; Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers
Verified:	2009/09/14

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	b. Voting is compulsory and regulated in the electoral law
Comments:	"Those people who abstain from casting their votes, although they are registered as voters and eligible for casting their vote, without justified excuse in parliamentary general or mid-term elections shall be punished with a fine of ten thousand Turkish liras. This provision is definitive."
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Act, art. 63
Verified:	2009/09/02

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	b. EMB
Comments:	Elections shall be held under the general administration and supervision of the judicial organs. The Supreme Board of Election executes all the functions to ensure the fair and orderly conduct of the elections from the beginning to the end of polling, carry out investigations and take final decisions on all irregularities, complaints, and objections concerning the elections during and after the polling, and verify the election returns of the members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. No appeal shall be made to any authority against the decisions of the Supreme Board of Election.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 79; Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art.111
Verified:	2009/09/14

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Yuksek Segim Kurulu - Higher Council of Elections
Email: N/A

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/17

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level
Comments:	Among other responsibilities, the Supreme Board of Elections has an overseeing function over provincial and county election boards.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 14
Verified:	2009/09/15

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature d. A national government department
Comments:	The expenses of the Supreme Board of Elections and of the General Directorate of Voters' Registers and all other election expenses shall be covered from the general budget. The necessary funds shall be shown in a special program in the budget of the Ministry of Justice. The daily fees to be paid to chairmen and members of election boards and to other persons to be employed for the elections... shall be determined by the Supreme Court of Elections, provided that the daily fee does not exceed the amount to be found by multiplying 600 by civil servants' monthly pay coefficient. No tax shall be imposed on those fees.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 181-182
Verified:	2009/09/15

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The chief authority to issue orders of payment out of the designated funds is the Chairman of the Supreme Board of Elections, who may delegate his/her powers to the General Directorate of Voters' Registers. The daily fees to be paid to chairmen and members of election boards and to other persons to be employed for the elections... shall be determined by the Supreme Court of Elections...
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 181-182
Verified:	2009/09/15

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	The members of the Supreme Board of Elections are elected for a term of 6 years. (The term for provincial and county boards is two years).
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 11, 15 & 18
Verified:	2009/09/15

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body c. Local/County Electoral Management Bodies h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:
Source:	Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections, arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
Verified:	2002/08/26

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections, arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
Verified:	2002/08/26

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections, arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
Verified:	2002/08/26

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 67.
Verified:	2009/09/15

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:	Every Turkish citizen over 18 years of age has the right to vote in elections and to take part in referenda.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 67. Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 6
Verified:	2009/09/15

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments:	The Supreme Board of Elections is responsible for designating the principles of establishment and operation of Voter Registers General Directorate, publishing respective regulations, issue and audit programs. Voter Registers General Directorate is managed by a general manager appointed by the Supreme Board of Elections. In addition to the Voter Registers General Directorate, 'Voter Registers Office' is set up in each county, managed by the charimen of the county election boards.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 14:12 & 28
Verified:	2009/09/15

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	Registry officers shall register only the voters present in their place during registration.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 34
Verified:	2009/09/15

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 74, 75 & 90
Verified:	2009/09/15

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	b. Citizens residing outside the country
Comments:	Applicable measures are defined by law to enable the Turkish citizens abroad to exercise their right to vote. Voters not registered in Voter Register and residing in another country for more than six months may cast their votes...
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 67 Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 94: II
Verified:	2009/09/15

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	c. Special polling stations
Comments:	Voters not registered in Voter Register and residing in another country for more than six months may cast their votes at ballot boxes to be installed at customs ports while entering or exiting Turkey, starting on the 75th day in advance of the day on which general elections for deputies shall be made, until 17:00 on the election day.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 94: II
Verified:	2009/09/15

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	Each voter stamps the 'evet' ('yes') seal on the circle under the name of the political party s/he prefers or places the ballot paper of the independent candidate s/he prefers in the envelope. After stamping the 'evet' seal the voter folds the ballot paper and places it in the envelope, closes and seals it and returns the 'evet' seal to the chairman of the ballot box committee and casts the envelope into the ballot box.
Source:	Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 28
Verified:	2009/09/15

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	c. Regional distribution requirement e. Minimum number of candidates f. Other
Comments:	Parties have to establish their organizations in at least half of the provinces, which means the establishment of an organization in at least one third of the counties within that province including the central county; and they have to convene their main congress no later than within six months or have a group in the Grand National Assembly Political parties have to present a full number of candidates in at least half of the total number of provinces and present candidates in one or more of the election districts of these provinces.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 14:11 Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 13-14
Verified:	2009/09/15

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship h. Minimum level of education j. Other
Comments:	Every Turk over the age of 30 is eligible to be a deputy. Persons who have not completed their primary education, who have been deprived of legal capacity, who have failed to perform compulsory military service, who are banned from public service, who have been sentenced to a prison term totalling one year or more excluding involuntary offences, or to a heavy imprisonment; those who have been convicted for dishonourable offences such as embezzlement, corruption, bribery, theft, fraud, forgery, breach of trust, fraudulent bankruptcy; and persons convicted of smuggling, conspiracy in official bidding or purchasing, of offences related to the disclosure of State secrets, of involvement in terror action, or incitement and encouragement of such activities, cannot be elected deputies, even if they have been pardoned. Applicants for independent candidature shall also deposit an amount equal to the gross salary of a civil servant of the highest rank to the responsible sub-division of the treasury and add the receipt thereof to the documents of their application for candidature. They are reimbursed if they receive a sufficient number of votes to be elected (or withdraw candidature within the legal time limit or whose candidature is declined or in case of death - the money is reimbursed to their legal successors.)
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 76. Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 10-11 & 21
Verified:	2009/09/15

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:	The President of the Republic is elected for a term of office of seven years by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey from among its own members who are over 40 years of age and who have completed their higher education or from among Turkish citizens who fulfil these requirements and are eligible to be deputies. The nomination of a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic from outside the Grand National Assembly of Turkey requires a written proposal by at least one-fifth of the total number of members of the Assembly. Every Turkish citizen eligible for candidature can stand for parliamentary elections - there is no obligation of being a political party member for candidature.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 101. Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 12
Verified:	2009/09/15

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:	The state provides financial aid to political parties at an adequate level and on an equitable manner. The principles, to which the aid to be made to political parties and the membership dues and donation they receive are subject, are regulated by law.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 68
Verified:	2009/09/15

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:
Source:	Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections, arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
Verified:	2002/08/27

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	There are no provisions in the legislature banning private funding. The Constitution only states that the revenues and expenditures of political parties must be in conformity with their objectives. However, political parties may not engage in commercial activities and those political parties that receive material assistance from foreign States, international organizations and real persons and legal entities that are not of Turkish nationality are dissolved permenantly.
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 69
Verified:	2009/09/15

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:	The ballot boxes are opened before all attendants at the voting place and the total number of envelopes removed from the box is counted and recorded. The vote counting is firstly performed by the ballox box committee. Each county board of elections shall combine the results of the ballot boxes and record the number of votes received by the political parties and independent candidates. Each provincial board of elections shall then combine the results from the counties as recorded by county boards of elections. Upon drawing up the votes counting combination report, the provincial boards of elections send the results by cable to the Supreme Board of Elections, informing it also by phone and radio. The Supreme Board of Elections sums up all the valid votes all over Turkey and calculates the percentage of the valid votes for each political party in the total number of valid votes, and notifies those parties that have surpassed the barrier.
Source:	Basic Electora Provisions, art. 98 Parliamentary Elections Law, art. 31-33
Verified:	2009/09/15

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:
Source:	Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections, arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	d. Based on mixture of principles (specify)
Comments:	Political parties which take part in the election may conduct electioneering activities on radio and television after the 7th day in advance of the election day until 18:00 hours on the day before the election day, provided that the provisions in private laws are reserved. Political parties shall be given the following electioneering rights: a) two speeches not more than 10 minutes on the first 10 days and the last day to explain their programs and projects, b) an additional 10 minute for political parties having a group in the Grand National Assembly, c) an additional electioneering time of 20 minutes for the party having the political power or the larger one of the parties sharing the power and additional 15 minutes for other parties holding the power Political parties may also conduct visualised electioneering activities provided that the time used for such activities does not exceed half of electioneering times. Visualised electioneering shall be prepared by producers other than TRT (Turkish Radio & Television Institution). Visualised electioneering is for explaining the activities which have been and will be performed by political parties. Such electioneering shall not include any image to constitute an offence. Such electioneering of political parties shall not be less than two minutes at a time nor shall its total time within a day be more than ten minutes. Political parties may exercise their visualised electioneering rights in more than one channel of TRT. The Supreme Board of Elections shall determine the period of time in which the images shall be delivered to TRT and the times of broadcast of such electioneering by TRT depending on the availability of TRT. If such images contain a matter constituting an offence, the Supreme Board of Elections shall not allow the images be broadcast. Political parties shall, in their first speeches through the radio and television make their election declarations. Speeches shall be broadcast simultaneously through all radio and television stations in Turkey. The day and time of electioneering speeches through radio and television and the parties to deliver speech shall be announced in advance through news programs by Turkish Radio and Television. The Supreme Board of Elections and Turkish Radio and Television shall provide that electioneering through radio and television shall be made equitably and impartially.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 52
Verified:	2009/09/16

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	President is elected by the members of Turkish Grand National Assembly
Source:	Art 102 Constitution OSCE/ODIHR Assessment Report Parliamentary Elections, 3 November 2002 Republic of Turkey
Verified:	2005/03/30

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	d. 6-7 days
Comments:	Within seven days before the voting date, no broadcasts for or against a specific political party or candidate nor any broadcasts that may influence the citizen's vote through any kind of programmes such as news and interviews or through advertising or public opinion surveys, questionnaires, forecasts, and via information communication telephone lines under labels such as mini-referendums shall be allowed. Those not complying with these restrictions are deemed to have violated the broadcasting standards.
Source:	Law on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and Their Broadcasts, art.32
Verified:	2009/09/16

ME080

Maximum amount for paid advertising

Question:	Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2009/09/16

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 175
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 175
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 175
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	a. Constitutional changes only
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of the Republic of Turkey Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook, 2008: http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/09/25