Introduction Independent election observation aims to contribute to holding elections that are democratic, fair and that provide equal opportunities for all as well as equal access to the right to vote and be elected. Independent election observation is one of the criteria that ensures the legitimacy of elections. UN Human Rights Committee There should be independent scrutiny of the voting and counting process and access to judicial review or other equivalent process so that electors have confidence in the security of the ballot and the counting of the votes1 In a country like Turkey, where casting a vote in the elections is almost the only means available for citizen participation, where democratic participation mechanisms are extremely limited, the independent observation of elections becomes ever more important. The Parliamentary Elections of 2002, 2007 and2011, as well as the Presidential elections of 2014 in Turkey were observed and reported by OSCE/Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. In all its election reports, ESCE/ODIHR has recommended that the election process in Turkey be made accessible to independent observers. The Independent Election Observation Platform (IEOP) was founded in 2011 by rights-based NGOs in an effort to conduct human rights-based election observation. The IEOP bases its activities on international standards and focuses on identifying violations of rights and discrimination in the process of elections and determining the opportunities and conditions for exercising the right to vote and be elected with respect to women, persons with disabilities, those who have different ethnicities, religious beliefs, mother tongues and sexual orientations, IDPs, as well as people who are not literate in Turkish. IEOP has shared all its observation reports with the Supreme Board of Elections (SBE) and has made recommendations on practices in elections. The IEOP has made official applications to the SBE prior to the 2011 Parliamentary Elections and in all elections held after that date, to be granted the status of Independent Observer. The IEOP has carried out independent election observation during the 2011 Parliamentary Elections, the 2014 Local Elections and the 2014 Presidential Elections and has produced reports for all election observation activities. The activities related to independent election observation or the platform are not directly or indirectly associated with any political party or candidate. Our independent election observers act in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. 1 Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 25. 4