Oy ve Ötesi explains: What should we pay attention to when voting?

Having served in 11 elections since its establishment in 2014, the Oy ve Ötesi Association will be on the field for the local elections to be held on March 31, 2024.

Mehmet Bilgiç, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oy ve Ötesi Association, which will serve with 50 thousand volunteers in 49 provinces on election day, provided important information on what to pay attention to during the voting process and what to do in case of any irregularities.

Stating that they will protect the votes of 53 million 525 thousand people with their volunteers, Bilgiç noted that on election day, observers will be involved in the formation of ballot box committees, the sealing of envelopes and ballots, the observation of the voting process, the resolution of irregularities and disruptions, and the counting and sorting of votes after 17.00.

''WE WILL HAVE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS''

Bilgiç provided the following information on what to do in case of any irregularities on election day:

"There is the election law and circular number 138 to be used in the March 31 elections. They will find the relevant articles in the circular and present them to the ballot box committee chairman and members. They will make an oral objection in the first instance. If their oral objections are accepted and corrected, the procedure in accordance with the law will be applied. But if this is not done, they also have the right to object in writing. If their written objections are not accepted, we will have volunteer lawyers. Our volunteer lawyers will assist them."

Noting that volunteers participate in the elections within political parties or as independent observers, Bilgiç said that they sometimes encounter problems such as not being allowed into schools on election day. Bilgiç continued, "When we show the relevant article to the relevant security forces, they also assist us," he said.

''CITIZENS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OBSERVE AT THE BALLOT BOX AFTER 17.00''

Bilgiç said the following regarding the points to be considered during the voting process:

"First of all, when you go to the ballot box where you will vote, check whether your name is on the voter list and make sure that the section corresponding to your name is empty, in the signature section. Then you will be given an envelope and three ballots. They should pay attention to the fact that this envelope and the ballots are sealed and that there is no mark on them. After being sure of this, they should enter the booth and cast their votes. The second thing I can say at this point is that the ballots can sometimes be large. After folding the ballot in a way that the name of the political party or independent candidate they want to vote for is on top, they should stamp it, let it dry a little; if we speak for Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, they should first fold and stamp the ballot for the metropolitan mayor, then fold and stamp the ballots belonging to the electoral districts such as district mayor, and then municipal council members, and then put them in the envelope. They will also put the ballot for the neighborhood headman (muhtar) in. After putting a total of four ballots into one envelope, they will cast them into the ballot box and sign. The signature stage is also important here. A great responsibility falls on the citizens here. Citizens have the authority to observe at the ballot box where they voted or at another ballot box after 17.00."

Stating, "I invite everyone to protect their votes as a civic duty," Bilgiç stated that they need volunteers all over Turkey and used the expressions, "I invite everyone to be an observer at Oy ve Ötesi via the websites oyveotesi.org or gonulluyonetimi.org."