Ekrem İmamoğlu speaks out on 'ballot box security'

Ercan KÜÇÜK - Aslı AĞIRDİL

Voting for the March 31 Local Elections is currently underway.

In Istanbul, one of the cities where the election race is most closely watched, CHP candidate and incumbent IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu arrived at the Emin Yükseloğlu Girls' Anatolian Imam Hatip High School in Beylikdüzü with his family to cast his vote.

Speaking after casting his vote, İmamoğlu said, "I hope the joy of living together will lead to good things. My son Semih is casting his first vote. I think he was thoughtful about who to vote for."

Ekrem İmamoğlu cast his vote

"I hope the joy of living together will lead to good things. My son Semih is casting his first vote. I think he was thoughtful about who to vote for"https://t.co/YzknAD4d9k pic.twitter.com/Uru8NUOSYG

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) March 31, 2024

Responding to reporters' questions upon leaving, İmamoğlu stated:

“Today, we are experiencing local elections all over our Turkey and in Istanbul. We are in the month of Ramadan. I hope and wish that today, while all the beautiful feelings of the month of Ramadan are being experienced, there will be no problems or troubles during or after the voting process, and that the will of the ballot box will be protected without infringing on anyone's rights. Whatever the result, whoever our citizens have voted for, it is very important for the democracy of our country and for the unity and solidarity of our country that the result is announced and the duty begins in the most accurate way. With these feelings, we certainly hope that this election will pass without problems. Today, we cast our votes with our family, my wife, and my two sons. The vote is a sacred right of our citizens in democracy, and it is essential that this right be protected from the moment it is cast into the ballot box. Of course, the institutions responsible for this protection and preservation are clear. But unfortunately, in our country, in order to overcome deficiencies in some areas, the preservation of the ballot box is carried out together with our citizens who take on duties beyond just being witnesses. I hope it reaches a contemporary level. I hope that in future elections and years, we will all experience a process where the way of voting, the way of counting and sorting, and the transformation into results occur without any problems.”

“I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST FOR OUR CITY OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS”

“Today is a bit of an emotional day for me. Because it is a moment of reconciliation for 5 years of effort. A moment of reconciliation for 5 years of effort can be best interpreted by the citizens' votes. I hope our people, our citizens, and our fellow countrymen will allow me to experience this feeling of reconciliation. For my part, I would like to express that I have acted with all my colleagues and political companions to do the best I can, to carry out a process that is investor-friendly, cooperative, and executive at the highest level for our Istanbul, in line with the principle of equality, without separating any district from another, never putting political elements in front of me, and without putting partisanship or party politics in front of me, based on the equality of individuals and the right of people to receive equal service. If I have broken anyone's heart or upset anyone in this big city, I certainly ask for forgiveness. May they grant me their blessing. But we believe that we have done our best so that the children, youth, women, and mothers of this country and this beautiful city can live in the best way possible. We believe that we have provided a very important period for Istanbul. I hope we reconcile with our 16 million people with the result of this election. Of course, if we are granted the authority, I hope we will continue to provide the best for our city over the next 5 years.”

“ESPECIALLY THE SUPREME ELECTION COUNCIL…”

“Finally, let me say this: I will be following the election tonight at our election coordination center at the Provincial Headquarters. I hope that all our friends working at the ballot boxes, regardless of which political party they belong to, will fight to ensure that no one's rights or laws are violated, that the ballot box officials manage the process in the most accurate way, and that they stay at the ballot boxes until they receive the final wet-signed report after the results are concluded in a way worthy of the democracy of the Republic of Turkey, without any manipulation. Our citizens can also choose to wait in schoolyards during this beautiful month of Ramadan to see how their most valuable right, the right to vote, reaches the result or is reflected in the result. They can wait in nearby areas and learn the results. Everyone's heart will be at ease. In this context, I hope that the Supreme Election Council, as well as the Provincial Election Board and district election boards, will show the necessary sensitivity and manage a sensitive period in accordance with the rules and laws so that the results are finalized without the slightest problem in such elections that determine the future of our country, which is worthy of the 21st century. May our day be beautiful. I hope that tomorrow morning, Turkey and our Istanbul will wake up to a very beautiful spring morning.”

News Source: 12punto