Allegations of Election Safety Violations in March 31 Local Elections

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After ballot boxes were opened for March 31 General Local Election in 81 provinces across Turkey, there were various allegations of election safety violations coming from different parts of the country.

The allegations made on social media and in the press were as follows:

Muş

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), a dispute erupted between the voters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Felicity Party (SP) at the Bulanık Religious Vocational High School in Muş.

The dispute turned into a conflict with knives and sticks. Four people have been hospitalized after the incident.

Siirt

The MA has further reported that a commotion arose between the village guards and polling clerks of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at the Halide Kutlualp Primary School in Turkey's eastern province of Siirt. 

A police officer told HDP MP Sıddık Taş, "You are not our MP. Your are the MP of terrorists."

In a social media post shared by the Human Rights Association (İHD) Central Office's Twitter account, it was also stated that some police officers and soldiers brought from Kocaeli and Yozgat cast votes in Siirt.

It is not known whether they had the necessary "142" document, which they are required to present while voting.

Van

The Van 1st Penal Judgeship of Peace ruled that a body search could be conducted on citizens casting their votes. The objection of the Libertarian Lawyers' Association against the practice was rejected.

Giresun

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu has shared the following message on Twitter by saying "Election scandals have started":

"They allowed only 80 of 350 people to cast votes in Giresun Type E Closed Prison. They did not allow them to vote though their names are on the list. The director of the prison told them 'I call the shots here, you can go and complain to whomever you want'."

Urfa

'Votes of 45 people were cast by others'

As reported by Etkin News Agency (ETHA), the votes of 45 people residing in the Neighborhood of Güluşağı in Hilvan, Urfa were cast en masse by someone else without their knowledge.

The incident was written down in the minutes.

'Police officers cast votes without a document'

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), several riot police officers brought to Turkey's southeastern province of Urfa from Mersin cast votes at the ballot box no. 1094 in Halfeti Anatolian High School.

In the event that public officers cast votes in another ballot box than the ones they are obliged to vote, they are required to present an official document numbered 142. However, it has been reported that the police officers in question did not have or present this document.

'Voting procedure halted at one school'

According to the Demarkaj website, voting procedure was halted at a primary school* in the rural neighborhood of Hilallı in Halfeti, Urfa.

It has been reported that the voting procedure was stopped because of open vote at the ballot boxes no. 1049 and 1050.

It has been further stated that a dispute erupted between the polling clerks of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who objected to the open vote, and the polling clerks of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

İzmir

Blue wristbands worn by AKP polling clerks

It has been alleged that polling clerks of the ruling AKP wore blue wristbands in Buca, İzmir despite the electoral restrictions. Main opposition CHP's Buca District Secretary Nurhayat YIlmaz submitted a petition of objection to the Election Council of Buca.

Electoral vehicles of the AKP

In the district of Çiğli in İzmir, it was seen that the electoral vehicle of the AKP roamed around areas near ballot boxes though it is forbidden according to electoral restrictions. The following message has been posted on social media regarding this allegation:

#31MartYerelSeçim | İzmir Çiğli''de seçim yasağı olmasına rağmen AKP'nin seçim arabasının sandık bölgelerinde gezdiği öğrenildi. #Secim2019
Via/ @dokuz8/@BerkaySagol pic.twitter.com/aoNG2E6tu5

— Hergele Postası (@HergelePostasi) 31 Mart 2019

Ağrı

HDP Ağrı MP Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir has announced that AKP members distributed aid parcels in the neighborhoods of Cezaevi, Fatih and Bulut in Turkey's eastern province of Ağrı as part of their "election campaign" last evening in company with police officers.

The pictures of Savcı Sayan, the AKP's mayor candidate for Ağrı, were placed on the aid parcels distributed to the citizens.

Diyarbakır

Allegation of forced open vote

As reported by the MA, a patrol commander went to the neighborhood of Köprü in Bismil in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır and forced the villagers to cast open votes. The agency has further reported that the commander told the villagers that he wanted to cast votes on their behalf.

Speaking to the MA, a polling clerk has stated that the patrol commander did not want anyone to come to the ballot box and told the villagers that he would vote in their place. "You will vote for a single place. If needs be, I will vote. No sir, I am here for 4-5 months. You are always here," the commander further stated, according to the polling clerk.

Allegation of battery of polling clerks

The MA has reported that lawyer Eyyüp Aydeniz, who is on duty in the Neighborhood of Kayahan in Kulp, Diyarbakır, and Fırat Akdeniz, Suat Öztürk and Mehmet Emin Ay from the HDP were battered by village guards. It has also been reported that the wards were not intervened by the soldiers.

Dersim

In Turkey's eastern province of Dersim, an incident of multiple vote has been recorded. In the minute written about the incident, it has been reported that two soldiers attempted to cast multiple votes.

Adana

Dokuz8 haber news website has reported that the voters' list at the ballot boxes no. 1058 and 1059 in the Çınarlı Neighborhood in Sarıçam, Adana was different from the list sent to the Republican People's Party (CHP).

While there are 397 voters in the list sent to the main opposition CHP for the ballot box no. 1058, in the list hung on the election hall, there are 283 people. Similarly, while there are 340 people registered as voters in the list sent to the party for the ballot box no. 1059, there are 283 voters in the list hung on the door of the election hall.

Şırnak

As reported by the MA, in the district of Beytüşşebap in Turkey's southeastern province of Şırnak, soldiers attempted to cast their votes in uniforms though they were not on an official duty. Soldiers took off their uniform upon being warned by the polling clerks of the HDP.

Journalists trying to capture the incident were prevented by soldiers. (TP/SD)

* In Turkey, voters cast their votes at primary and secondary schools, which serve as election centers at presidential, parliamentary and local elections.