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Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Provincial Organization has announced that around 500 "imaginary voters" were detected in the Princes' Islands district ahead of the local elections on March 31, 2019.
CHP İstanbul has said in a press release that it analyzed the voter lists which were hung by the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) and found that there has been a six percent increase in the number of voters in the Princes' Islands since the elections held on June 24, 2018.
CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu has said, "In the Princes' Islands, there is a sharp increase in number of voters. There are voters registered in abandoned, and even collapsed buildings. As soon as the lists were hung, we began analysis and will complete our objections as soon as possible."
Registered voters in abandoned buildings
CHP has shared the following examples from its preliminary report:
* Three voters are registered in an abandoned building in Nizam Neighborhood in Büyükada.
* Garden of a house in Büyükada is separately numbered and 16 voters are registered in that address.
* In Heybeliada, three voters are registered in a building that completely burnt years ago.
* In Heybeliada, nine voters are registered in abandoned buildings on two streets.
"3 people that we don't know registered in our home"
According to the claims, imaginary voters are not only registered in abandoned buildings, but also in homes, where people reside.
Nuri Dağdeviren, a 42-year resident of Heybeliada has said,
"Like all citizens, I checked my, my husband's and my son's voter registrations on the Internet. Three people from Antalya, İstanbul and Hatay seem to live in my home.
"I have been living in the same home in Heybeliada since 1977. Until now, I have never seen such a thing.
"These fake voters are also registered in our neighbors' homes. We will do whatever necessary."
Six percent increase
In the CHP's statement, it has been said, "In the 38 other districts of İstanbul, increases in voter numbers are around 1 and 1.5 percent. The six percent high increase in the Princes' Islands indicates that there is a very serious fraud attempt."
"In the 2014 local elections, vote difference between the CHP, which was first, and the AKP, which was second, was 826."
CHP İstanbul Chair Kaftancıoğlu has said, "We will complete our objections as soon as possible. İstanbulites should rest assured. The only thing I ask from them is to control their registrations on the YSK's website. It is enough for them to let us know if they detect people registered in their homes."
Previous elections in Princes' Islands
In the 2014 local elections, CHP took 50.1 percent or 5,207 of the votes in the Princes' Islands. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) took 42.2 percent or 4,381 of the votes. Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) got 3.8 percent of the votes.
In the general elections which were held on June 24, 2018, CHP took 40.24 percent, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) took 23.28 percent, AKP took 22.47 percent, İYİ Party took 7.48 percent and the Nationalist Movement PArty (MHP) took 4.62 percent of the votes. (EKN/VK)
