Article 29: Participation in Political and Public Life Persons with disabilities represent approximately 6.9% of the population in Turkey, according to the latest data available in a 2010 study. The measures taken by the State to improve access to informed, independent and secret vote, for people with reduced mobility, visual and hearing impairment, mental disabilities, or who are illiterate, are still very insufficient. Concerning the right to participate in and conduct public affairs, persons with disabilities are almost “invisible” at all levels of government, in elected positions, as well as within party structures. Official statistical data on voters and candidates is insufficient or at least inaccessible to the general public. 1. Right to Vote Elections are organized and managed by the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) subject to the relevant legislation. The YSK website is partly in easily accessible format, however, for example, current YSK decisions are not easily accessible. The Constitution states that the YSK decisions cannot be subject to an appeal in a higher court of law. Basic Provisions for Elections and Voter Registration (No: 298) is the main legislation concerning elections. It states that persons with mental disabilities who have been placed under guardianship cannot vote. The guardianship appointment is carried out by the courts based on medical reports. In the appointment of a guardian, the person’s “ability to distinguish” is not taken into account. Furthermore, there is no special support mechanism available. Medical reports for persons with disabilities are based on a ratio system in Turkey. According to this system, a persons who is 40% mentally disabled and 100% mentally disabled are equally deprived of the right to vote. The rules, practices, documents and materials used for elections, result in violations of the voters’ rights to receive information, to vote independently, in secrecy and to participate in elections, at multiple levels. Citizens must be registered in the electoral roll to be able to vote in the elections. Prior to the election, voter registration is opened to the voters in the website of the YSK as well as the neighborhood units. Voters must visit their respective neighborhood units and check if they are registered in the electoral rolls. If they are not registered, they must apply to the election board of elections with a petition. The neighborhoods unit are not sufficiently accessible, people with mobility difficulties can only check their records by getting help from another person. Similarly, for persons with visual impairments, checking their registration is only possible through the help of another person. In most cases; persons with 19