The pictures below were taken in two of Turkey’s biggest cities, Antalya and Istanbul, on the day of 2018 General Elections, and was also featured in the news. They capture the current situation in the polling stations. These photos are not exceptions, the situation in smaller provinces is even worse. A positive development was the amendment of Article 14 of Basic Provisions for Elections and Voter Registration (STHSKHK) (No. 298), through Law No. 7102. The amendment allowed for the establishment of mobile ballot boxes for persons who are bedridden. The legislation provides for all voters who are bedridden to benefit from this provision, except for neighborhood unit elections. However, YSK did not allow bedridden voters who reside in villages and rural areas to register with the mobile ballot boxes in the 24th June 2018 Elections, through its Decision No: 01.05.2018/347. This YSK decision has issued a restriction which is not found in the law, therefore violating the principles of equality before the law and non-discrimination. AMER has made an application to the YSK, on the grounds that this decision violates the principle of equality before the law and non-discrimination. The Disability Act 2005 (No: 5378), Article 90 of the Constitution, as well as other international human rights conventions to which Turkey is a party to, were used as a reference to the application. The correction of the YSK decision was requested. However, the YSK refused the application without providing any justification. YSK, in their recent decision No: 02.01.2019/ 3 has again excluded persons who are bedridden living in villages and rural areas concerning the local elections to be held in 31st March 2019. AMER has once again applied to the YSK on the ground that this decision is discriminatory, however this application was also rejected by the YSK with their decision No:181 on 18th January 2019. The YSK has violated one of the fundamental principles of law, which is equality before law, as well as Article 12 and 13 of the Convention in both the General Elections held in 2018 and the Local 21

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