There were reports of oppressive environments in 74 ballot boxes. Provinces where oppression was
observed the most were Izmir (21), Van (14) and Mersin (9). Thereasonforanoppressiveenvironmentwasreportedas
excessive police presencein 42 ballot boxes, general tensionat 21 ballot boxes, and political party advocatesin7 ballot boxes.
CAMPAI
GN
MATERI
EVET AL
65
HAYIR
1.595
TOPLAM
1.660
KAYIP
43
TOPLAM
1.703
CAMPAIGN
ACTIVITIES
48
1.615
1.663
40
1.703
OPPRESSIVE
ENVIRONMENT
EVET
74
HAYIR
TOPLAM
KAYIP
TOPLAM
1.586
1.660
43
1.703
With respect to access to ballot boxes, a striking result
from the observer forms was that 1.202 ballot boxes
(88.9%) were not accessible by elevators.
Despite announcements by the authorities prior to
every election that measures will be taken for
accessibility for the elderly and disabled32 the picture
on election day is quite different. On the election of June
7th, our observers have witnessed many incidents
concerning disabled and elderly voters.
Examples of witness testimonies :
“Durmuşali Yılmaz, who was registered at ballot box No. 3025 at the Vehbi Dai Primary School in the Gaziantep
District of Şahinbey together with his son, cast his vote at his ballot box. He then showed the ballot box officer a
disability report for his son stating that he was 97% disabled and bed-ridden and that he could not bring his son to
the polling station. He asked the ballot box officer to give him a document stating that his son could not cast his
vote. However, the ballot box officer said that they could not issue such a document.
The Vehbi Dai Primary School is not accessible by the disabled and elderly. The entrance to the building has very
steep stairs.”
“At the Gazi Middle School in Izmir, Alsancak Kültür Neighborhood, Emine Çetinada has had a protocol
prepared attesting to the fact that her father, who is in a wheel chair was carried with the chair to the ballot
box above the ground floor.”
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