ANALYSIS: Election appeals that could decide Turkey's election

April 6, 2019  01H:36  GMT/ZULU

by Leila Mohamed and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, and Reuters News Analysts, Ankara

ANKARA - Turkey’s AK Party has filed objections to initial results of Sunday’s local elections in all districts of Istanbul and Ankara, after they showed narrow victories for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Following are details of the regulations covering voting, counting, and appeals to the results in Turkish local elections.

VOTING

* In Sunday’s elections, Turks voted to elect mayors, members of the municipal councils, neighbourhood representatives, and other local administrators.

VOTE COUNT

* Ballot box delegations, made up of representatives from the five political parties that won the most votes in the previous elections, assess valid and invalid votes.

* Once valid and invalid votes have been separated, the tallies are taken to the District Electoral Council where records from across the district are collected.

* The final district record sheet is taken to the Provincial Electoral Council, and a copy is given to the parties and independent candidates.

* The Provincial Electoral Councils share data with the High Electoral Board (YSK), which inputs the results into its election programme, accessible only by political parties in the race.

APPEAL PROCESS

* After all votes have been counted, parties can file objections and appeals to the initial results in three stages. The appeals can demand a recount of all votes or of only invalid votes, or an annulment of the elections in the district or city.

* Firstly, parties can submit objections to the votes at the District Electoral Council, where officials have a two-day period to evaluate the appeals. If approved, the votes in that district are re-examined.

* If rejected, parties can submit further objections to the Provincial Electoral Council a day after the rejection of the first appeal. Officials again have a two-day period to evaluate the appeals. Votes are re-examined if approved.

* If neither appeal yields results, parties can file appeals to the YSK, the highest authority on the matter. The YSK has three days to rule on the appeals, which will be final.

* Following Sunday’s vote, the deadline for submitting objections to the District Electoral Council expired on Tuesday at 3 pm (1200 GMT). The AKP filed objections in every district of Ankara and Istanbul.

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* The deadline to appeal to the Provincial Electoral Council, which can overturn rulings by the district councils, was 5 pm (1400 GMT) on Friday. On Friday, the AKP appealed to the provincial council for all Ankara votes to be recounted, after saying the recount triggered by its appeal to the district council did not meet its expecations.

* The final stage of the appeals is the YSK. It is made up of 11 members, chosen by Turkey’s highest courts. The four political parties that received the most votes in the previous elections may also appoint representatives who can join the meetings but cannot take part in decisions.