to security issues, there were additional requests made to the SBE to change the locations of ballot boxes in 51 districts in 7 provinces to ensure security.11 The SBE did not accept these requests. With regard to the media outlets in the November 1st election process, the SBE issued 58 warnings and 113 decisions to suspend broadcast. 12 The Electoral Threshold Article 67 of the Constitution stipulates that “(Paragraph added by 23/7/1995-4121/5) The electoral laws shall be drawn up so as to reconcile the principles of fair representation and stability of government” Despite this article, the 10% electoral threshold imposed in Turkey14 impedes fair Country-wide threshold and its representation and remains the main issue of debate in calculation: al elections. The official justification for the threshold is Article 33 – (Amended first paragraph: ‘to ensure political stability’. However, the practice 23/5/1987 - 3377/9 art.) Political parties prevents representation of different political thought in who fail to receive 10% of valid votes in parliament and puts smaller parties at a disadvantage throughout the country in the and impedes fair representation. This is an obstacle in parliamentary elections, and in all ensuring political plurality and the development of constituencies taking part in interim elections shall not be entitled to smaller political parties. representation in parliament. In order for In every election period, public poll researchers reiterate an independent candidate running in the that the 10% election threshold influences voters in their elections on a political party candidate list choices and that they refrain from voting for parties which to be elected as a deputy, the political they believe will not pass the threshold. party who enlists the candidate must have passed the 10 per cent threshold Despite the fact that the threshold is defended by various throughout the country in parliamentary circles to ensure political stability, the elections of 1991, 1995 and 1999 and June 7th yielded results that only elections or in all constituencies taking part in interim elections.13 allowed for the creation of coalition governments. The public, as well as political parties, accept that the 10% election threshold is an antidemocratic practice. On 12/06/2014, the Great Union Party, Democratic Leftist Party and the Felicity Party filed an application to the Constitutional Court to lift the 10% electoral threshold. The Court issued a decision of non-jurisdiction. 11 See Annex III: The names of election boards who applied to the SBE asking to change the locations of ballot boxes due to security concerns after the SBE had decided that ballot boxes may not be relocated due to security concerns. 12 See Annex IV: SBE Decisions to suspend broadcasting in the process of November 1st elections. 13 http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/Metin.Aspx?MevzuatKod=1.5.2839&sourceXmlSearch=&MevzuatIliski=0 14 In the elections of 1983, two thresholds were enforced, namely the countrywide election threshold of 10% and the constituency-based threshold.