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System of government

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

System of government-References:

 

Total population

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

79,463,663

 

Total population-References:

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

 

783,356 km2

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:

 

Number of registered voters

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

56,949,009

 

Number of registered voters-References:

 

Number of registered political parties

Last Updated : 2016-12-01

Eligible by number of seats won

- Justice and Development Party - AK Party

- Republican People's Party (CHP)

- Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)

Eligible by popular votes won

- Felicity Party

 

Number of registered political parties-References:

 

Number of polling stations

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Average number of voters per polling station

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting age

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

18

 

Voting age-References:

 

Elected Offices

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Election system

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

List Proportional Representation

 

Election system-References:

 

Terms of office

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term.

In the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi) 550 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms

 

Terms of office-References:

 

Election

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

Turkish general election, November 2015 

Election-References:

 

Date

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

1 November 2015

 

Date-References:

 

Political parties in the elections

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Number of elected candidates

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

The 550 seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey

 

Number of elected candidates-References:

 

Voter turnout

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

84%

 

Voter turnout-References:

 

Number of ballots cast

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

48,537,695

 

Number of ballots cast-References:

 

Legal framework for elections

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

Part of Constitution - Separate legislation

 

Legal framework for elections-References:

 

Legal provisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 175

Legal provisions-References:

 

Referenda

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, art. 175

 

Referenda-References:

 

People’s Initiatives

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

N/A

 

People’s Initiatives-References:

 

Recall Votes

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

N/A

 

Recall Votes-References:

 

Official name

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

SUPREME ELECTORAL COUNCIL OF TURKEY

 

Official name -References:

 

Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

Independent

 

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:

 

EMB budget source

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

The legislature - A national government department

 

EMB budget source-References:

 

EMB expenditure audit

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

Other 

EMB expenditure audit-References:

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

1 - 10 members

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

For a specified number of years

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

Judiciary

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Administrative divisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Turkey is divided into 81 provinces (Turkish: il/vilayet). Each province is divided into a number of different districts (il?e).

Administrative divisions -References:

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

constituencies are delimited for election purposes

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

"Equality" of population - Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries - Other

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-08-30

Electoral Management Body (EMB)

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Requirements on the right to vote

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reasons for having the right to vote revoked

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Electoral Eligibility

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reasons for having the eligibility revoked

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Requirements for party registration

Last Updated : 2016-10-11

Regional distribution requirement
Minimum number of candidates
Other

 

Requirements for party registration-References:

 

Candidate nomination

Last Updated : 2016-10-11

Independent candidates compete in both presidential and legislative elections.

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 fulfill 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. Law: art. 12: Every Turkish citizen eligible for candidature can stand for parliamentary elections - there is no obligation of being a political party member for candidature.

Candidate nomination-References:

 

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

Citizens over the age of 25 who have legal capacity and primary education are entitled to run. Ineligible are male citizens who have not completed compulsory military service, those who are legally banned from public service, or have been convicted for a broad range of crimes including minor criminal offences, even if pardoned. Such restrictions on candidacy rights are incompatible with the right to stand for election entrenched in several international documents, including Paragraph 7.5 of the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document and Section I.2.2.2.iv of the Code of Good Practice

 

In order to form a political party and to contest elections, parties must have an organizational structure in at least half of the provinces and one third of the districts in each of those provinces and convened a party congress six months prior to the elections.
All parties must submit candidate lists in at least half of the provinces. These requirements potentially limit freedom of association and the right to be elected. Independent candidates had to submit an electoral deposit which is refundable only to those elected, which is inconsistent with international good practice. 

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:

 

Candidate registration deposit

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Amount of fee

- Return of fee

Uncontested Election

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Preparation of the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Extracted from a population/civil registry

 

Preparation of the voters list-References:

 

Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

No 

Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:

 

Who is responsible for the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

Election Management Body

 

Who is responsible for the voters list -References:

 

Voters list preparation procedure

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

Turkish citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote, except conscripts, students in military schools and prisoners convicted of intentional crimes. These restrictions are not in line with paragraph 7.3 of the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document, Section I.2.2.2 of the Code of Good Practice and other international obligations.18 The ECtHR has twice ruled that the ban on convicted prisoners’ voting rights is too broad and must be proportionate to the crime committed.19 While the legal framework has not been amended yet, as in the last elections, the SBE issued a decision that partially implements the court’s ruling by permitting all convicts outside of prison to vote even if their sentence is not fully executed.

 

Around 54 million voters were registered to vote in Turkey and some 2.9 million abroad. Turkey has a passive voter registration system. The SBE maintains a permanent voter register linked to the civil and address registry operated by the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Since the June 2015 elections, the total number of voters increased by over 300,000 due to those who reached 18 years of age since then. Most OSCE/ODIHR LEOM interlocutors expressed confidence in the voter register and raised few concerns regarding its reliability and inclusiveness. 

 

Voters list preparation procedure -References:

 

Inspection and objection procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Definition

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Period

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Methods

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Prohibited forms of campaigning

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Who is not permitted to campaign

Campaign Finance

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Campaign expense limit

- Income and expenditure of campaign expense

- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure

- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions

- Reimbursement of campaign expense

Presiding officers

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① How many of officers in a polling station

② Roles of each officer

③ How we nominate the officers

Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Polling station location criteria

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting hours

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Is compulsory or voluntary?

② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?

Ballot Paper

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots

② What has to be included in the ballot paper?

③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper

④ Valid and invalid ballot paper

Voting Procedures

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Start ofvoting

- Process of voting

- End of voting

Marking method

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

① Who are subjected to do

② Voting procedures

Counting Location

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

The polling stations

 

Counting Location-References:

 

Counting period

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Vote counting method

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Counting Procedures

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Start of counting

- Process of counting

- End of counting

When are ballots recounted?

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

By request

 

When are ballots recounted?-References:

 

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

Individuals residing outside of Turkey for more than six months shall fill out the forms they
shall provide from places to be indicated by Voter Registers General Directorate.

 

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:

 

Overseas voters list preparation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Where to vote

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voting procedure for early voting

Last Updated : 2016-10-05

- They shall sign the form in the presence of the consul of the place where they are

affiliated to or any official to be designated by the consul. The form shall be sealed by the

consulate.

- The first copy of the form shall be sent by the consulate to the Supreme Board of

Elections Voter Registers General Directorate.

- The second copy of the form shall be retained by the consulate according to item number.

- The third copy of the form shall be returned to the citizen.

- Last domiciles in Turkey, of citizens residing in other countries shall be written on the

form. This statement shall be taken into consideration in the ballot-box voter list.

- Voter Registers General Directorate shall register the voter specified in the forms

submitted to it in Voter Registers.

 

Voting procedure for early voting-References:

 

Methods used to transport ballot papers

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Counting procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Apportioning of National Assembly seats

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Results Announcement

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Is the announcement of preliminary result required?

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Deadline for announcement of final results

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Reason for holding a by- or re-election

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

By-election dates

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Electoral process

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time

Last Updated : 2016-10-24

Based on mixture of principles

 

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:

 

Television debates

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

N/A

 

Television debates-References:

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results

Last Updated : 2016-10-24

6-7 days

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution body

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

EMB

 

Electoral dispute resolution body-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Direct public funding

Last Updated : 2016-10-24

both regularly provided funding and in relation to campaigns

Direct public funding-References:

 

Private funding of political parties

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party

Regulation, monitoring and investigation

Last Updated : 2016-10-24

Fines - Prison - Loss of public funding - Deregistration of party - Loss of political rights - Other

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies

Last Updated : 2016-10-24

Constitutional Court

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:

 

Which electoral processes are using ICTs?

Last Updated : 2016-10-11

official election results processed by an electronic tabulation system are entered between polling station level and central level

Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:

 

When it was introduced

Last Updated : 2016-12-01

N/A 

When it was introduced-References:

 

Gender equality

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

Female Population: 40,512,569 (2014 est.)

Is Turkey a signatory to CEDAW: No

Has Turkey ratified CEDAW: Yes (20 December 1985)

Gender Quota: No legislated quotas

Female Candidates in this election: Yes

Number of Female Legislators: 78 (14%) of 550 seats in the Grand National Assembly

Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 69

Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low

 

Gender equality-References:

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

Is Turkey a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

Has Turkey ratified CRPD: Yes (28 September 2009)

Population with a disability: 11,912,140 (2015 est.)

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:

 

Voter education

Last Updated : 2016-10-11

Election time only

 

Voter education-References:

 

National civic education

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

N/A

 

National civic education-References:

 

EMB Staff education

Last Updated : 2016-12-01

N/A

 

EMB Staff education-References:

 

Domestic observation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

International observation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Partnerships/MoUs

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

International Activities

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Major challenges to elections

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Measures taken to deal with those Challenges

Last Updated : 2016-05-03