Election bans begin tomorrow

The Supreme Election Council (YSK) has announced that the calendar for the Local Administration General Elections to be held on Sunday, March 31, 2024, continues to proceed.

According to the calendar, freedom of propaganda and certain election bans will begin tomorrow. Freedom of propaganda will end at 18:00 on Saturday, March 30, and election bans will end at 23:59 on March 31.

During this period, political parties and independent candidates participating in the election will be able to conduct verbal, written, or visual propaganda through advertisements in the written press or by launching websites until the end of the election propaganda period.

Throughout the election period, it will be prohibited to conduct collective verbal propaganda on public roads, in places of worship, in buildings and facilities used for public services, and in areas other than the squares designated by district election boards.

VERBAL PROPAGANDA WILL BE PROHIBITED

In open areas, it will be prohibited to conduct collective verbal propaganda from the end of the second hour after sunset until sunrise.

It will be prohibited to conduct propaganda by sending messages to citizens' email addresses or by sending voice, video, or written messages to their mobile or landline phones. However, political parties will be able to send voice, video, or written messages to their own members at any time.

During the 10-day period before the voting day, it will be prohibited to publish or distribute in any way, through written, verbal, and visual media and broadcasting tools, public opinion polls, surveys, forecasts, or information and communication phones, such as mini-referendums, that favor or oppose a political party or candidate or that influence the votes of citizens.

Trips made by ministers and members of parliament for election propaganda within the country cannot be conducted using official vehicles or vehicles allocated for official service. During trips made for this purpose, welcoming and farewell ceremonies required by protocol cannot be held, and official banquets cannot be given.

No civil servant will be able to participate in the election propaganda trips of ministers, members of parliament, and candidates.

ELECTION DAY BANS

Under the Law on Basic Provisions of Elections and Voter Registers No. 298, there are also bans regarding March 31, which is the voting day.

Under Article 79 of the law, the sale and consumption of all types of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited on voting day.

On voting day, all entertainment venues will remain closed during the voting period. In restaurants that qualify as entertainment venues, only food service will be allowed.

No one other than those tasked with maintaining security and public order will be allowed to carry weapons.

Until 18:00 on election day, it will be prohibited for radios and all types of broadcasting organizations to report, forecast, or comment on the election and election results; between 18:00 and 21:00, only news and communiqués from the YSK regarding the election may be broadcast. After 21:00, all broadcasts will be free, but the YSK may move this time forward.