Introduction Independent election observation aims to contribute to holding elections that are democratic, fair and that provide equal opportunities for all as well as equal access to the right to vote and be elected. Independent election observation is one of the criteria that ensures the legitimacy of elections. According to the OSCE 1990 Copenhagen Document: ‘(8) The participating States consider that the presence of observers, both foreign and domestic, can enhance the electoral process for States in which elections are taking place. They therefore invite observers from any other CSCE participating States and any appropriate private institutions and organizations who may wish to do so to observe the course of their national election proceedings, to the extent permitted by law. They will also endeavour to facilitate similar access for election proceedings held below the national level. Such observers will undertake not to interfere in the electoral proceedings.’ According to the UN Human Rights Committee General Comment No 25, ‘There should be independent scrutiny of the voting and counting process and access to judicial review or other equivalent process so that electors have confidence in the security of the ballot and the counting of the votes’ The Parliamentary Elections of 2002, 2007, 2011, June 7th 2015 the Presidential elections of 2014, in Turkey were observed and reported by OSCE/Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. In all its election reports, ESCE/ODIHR has recommended that the election process in Turkey be made accessible to independent observers. In a country like Turkey, where casting a vote in the elections is almost the only means available for citizen participation, where democratic participation mechanisms are extremely limited, the independent observation of elections becomes ever more important. The Independent Election Observation Platform (IEOP) was founded in 2011 by rights-based NGOs in an effort to conduct human rights-based election observation. The IEOP bases its activities on international standards and focuses on identifying violations of rights and discrimination in the process of elections and determining the opportunities and conditions for exercising the right to vote and be elected with respect to women, persons with disabilities, those who have different ethnicities, religious beliefs, mother tongues and sexual orientations, IDPs, as well as people who are not literate in Turkish. IEOP has shared all its observation reports with the Supreme Board of Elections (SBE) and has made recommendations on practices in elections. The IEOP has made official applications to the SBE prior to the 2011 Parliamentary Elections and in all elections held after that date, to be granted the status of Independent Observer, however all such applications were rejected by the SBE. The IEOP has carried out independent election observation during the 2011 Parliamentary Elections, the 2014 Local Elections, the 2014 Presidential Elections, the June 7 th 2015 Parliamentary Elections and has produced reports for all election observation activities.