BDP chases for lost votes in the dark

KOZLUK

A photograph showing the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Ayla Akat Ata searching for ballots in the garbage with a flashlight has gone viral on Turkish social media.

Power blackouts marred the vote-counting following the March 30 local elections not only in Ankara, but also in several towns in southeastern Turkey.

Ayla Akat Ata, a member of Parliament representing Batman, was in her home district to check the vote-counting process amid several claims of voting irregularities and fraud, including allegations that ballots were found in garbage bins.

In the southeast, power outages went hand in hand with claims that ballots were disposed before counting, especially in Batman. Ata went to the district of Kozluk personally and searched for the ballots, some of which were allegedly burned but still carrying a “yes” stamp for the BDP, in garbage bins at schools. The BDP has formally objected to the results by applying to the High Election Council (YSK).