Transparency of the Counting Process According to Article 95 of LBPEVR 298, observing the counting of votes is the legal right of all citizens. The counting has to be conducted openly in a manner that can be followed by those present. In the counting observation form, there were questions regarding whether observers were prevented from observing the counting process. The answers show that the law was violated in a small number of places. Van is the province where counting observations were prevented to the largest extent . Van, in particular, is one of the places where voters were not allowed to observe the counting process (7). CITIZENS PERMITTED TO OBSERVE 16 201 OBSERVERS PERMITTED YES FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE 201 78.8 NO 16 6.3 Total 217 85.1 Missing 38 14.9 255 100.0 Overall Total EVET HAYIR Observers have noted the following: ‘After the ballots were closed in Mezitli M. Develi Middle School, the entrance to the building was blocked by the school principal and the police and citizens were not permitted to observe the counting.’, ‘At Ticaret Lisesi, the police made an announcement at 17:00 for everyone to leave and no one was permitted to enter the building’, At ballot boxes 1016 and 1003, the officials blocked the entry to the classrooms with wooden chairs when the counting was taking place and did not permit citizens to watch the process.’ Unauthorised Persons in the Counting Area At 36 of the ballot boxes observed there were unauthorised persons present. Police were present at 31 ballot boxes and unknown civilian persons at 5 ballot boxes. The provinces where the highest number of unauthorised persons were observed were Ağrı (9), Van (8) and Diyarbakır (6). There is one observation on the intervention of unauthorised persons to the ballot box committee. ‘A thin, 40-45 year-old bearded policeman of medium height carrying a long-range rifle stood at the door, verbally interfered in the counting and made threats.