Methodology and Scope The Independent Election observation activities aim to monitor and report, throughout the election process, on the exercise of the right to vote and be elected, as guaranteed by international human rights instruments, with respect to disadvantaged groups and to determine whether elections were held democratically. The process of observation, as a whole, covers the creation of the voter registries, the determining of candidates, electioneering activities, voter training, election day observation, appeals and the examination of the election results. Two associations, who are members of the Platform, namely, Association for Monitoring Equal Rights (AMER) and The Human Rights Association (HRA) individually petitioned the Supreme Board of Elections (SBE) requesting accreditation as independent observers. However, the SBE rejected both applications. Subsequent to the appeals made against the SBE decision, the Human Rights Association made an application to the Constitutional Court. In addition to the OSCE, accreditation was granted by the SBE to the Council for Cooperation for Turkish Speaking Countries and the Parliamentary Assembly for Turkish Speaking Countries to observe the elections of 7 June. Despite the rejection by the SBE, in an effort to exercise the democratic right to observe the elections, the provincial election boards were sent notifications and election observation teams were set up. In addition, a call was made to voters, via AMER’s web site and the social media, to become a ‘An Observer for equality’ to report any violations they may have witnessed to the platform. In the process of elections, 4 citizens have given reports regarding voter registries, voter education and the right to vote. Detailed information about these reports can be found under the relevant sections. Reports were made to the platform by citizens who had filed 17 separate petitions for information to eight different institutions during the election process. Information about these petitions can be found in the report. In the June 7 elections, Independent observers from 38 NGOs8 observed the voting process in 21 provinces at 1,703 ballot boxes; and the counting process at 309 ballot boxes. Election observation was conducted using three separate standard forms. The forms, which were filled out by observers were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Election observation was carried out in the following provinces: Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Çanakkale, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir, Malatya, Manisa, Muğla, Sakarya, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon, Tunceli and Van. During the post election day observation, an evaluation was made of the appeals and complaints against the election results as well as the results themselves. Since it was not possible to access any clear information regarding these decisions of the SBE, which are not subject to judicial review, it has not been possible to evaluate whether or not they were in compliance with the law or based on equal treatment. Hence, an in depth legal analysis could not be performed on this front. The post election evaluation is limited to information gathered from newspaper reports and some quantitative data. The names of persons conducting observation in polling stations, the number of the polling stations and other private information, other than such information that has been reported to the press and the judiciary, have been omitted in order to ensure that the relevant persons do not face any negative repercussions. The information in this report does not, in any way, reflect the entire situation in the country or the situation in the provinces where election observation took place. The information is limited to those cases in which a determination could be made. 5