Overseas voting for Turkish elections kicks off

Voting for the upcoming Turkish parliamentary and presidential elections has started for voters living outside Turkiye. 3.416.98 people are expected to vote in 4,671 ballot boxes set up at customs stations for voters abroad. The Supreme Election Board formed ballot committees in 73 countries and 156 representative offices abroad.

According to the data of the Supreme Election Board, the highest number of voters is in Germany. Germany is followed by France and the Netherlands. Brazil has the least number of voters. The voting process will continue in foreign countries until the 9th of May. At the border gates, voting will continue until May 14. In case the presidential election goes to a second round, overseas voters will be able to vote between May 20-24. The ballots cast by voters abroad will be brought by airplanes to be rented from Turkish Airlines (THY).

Opposition parties have repeatedly called on their supporters to go to the polls. There are also concerns about a fair and safe election process. Earlier this week, a report by the Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands revealed that a quarter of citizens from Turkiye feel threatened and intimidated by Turkish influence in the Netherlands. These are opponents of President Erdogan or dissenters. According to Clingendael, the Turkish government is increasingly actively trying to build or maintain a relationship with Turks living in another country. In this way, Erdogan is trying to win over a larger number of voters, according to the institute.