Main opposition calls for more transparency in Turkey's local polls

ANKARA

The CHP previously voiced its concerns about voting integrity in Turkey. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

As political parties prepare to kick-off their campaigns for the upcoming local elections, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has voiced its concern over electoral fraud.

The CHP called on the Supreme Election Board (YSK) to disclose scanned records of every ballot box in the March 2014 elections, in an effort to address doubts over election results.

The CHP’s Information and Communication Technologies Department drafted a report on election security. The report includes advice and calls for both the YSK and voters.

There are doubts concerning the YSK’s Central Voter Registry System, and the Election Board should double-check its voter lists by comparing them with other population data in order to eliminate suspicions, the CHP’s report said.

The main opposition party previously voiced its concerns when over 3 million additional voters registered for the 2011 general elections compared to the local elections in 2009.

The CHP’s report suggests that every ballot paper should have the ballot box number, and that all political parties should have observers at every ballot box.

A 400,000-strong team will be tasked by the CHP to observe local poll votes and ensure that no electoral fraud occurs, the report added.

Like in 2011 general elections, the CHP will use its own software program similar to that of the YSK to count votes in local elections, with the information to be sent to party headquarters by the CHP’s observers.