Early Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, 24 June 2018

International Election Observation Mission press conference, Ankara, 25 June 2018

Live stream starts at 15.00 local time (14.00 CEST)

Following an official invitation, and based on the findings and conclusions of an OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission undertaken from 8 to 10 May, ODIHR has deployed Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the 24 June early presidential and parliamentary elections.

Long-term observation

ODIHR EOM, headed by Dame Audrey Glover, consists of 12 international experts based in Ankara. In addition, 22 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 28 May.

The mission will observe these elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the EOM will conduct a comprehensive monitoring of the media.

Election Day

ODIHR has requested 350 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 24 June elections. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the election, ODIHR EOM, together with its partners, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Co-operation with Other Partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are planning to deploy observer delegations for this election.

Previous elections

ODIHR has previously deployed six election-related activities in Turkey since 2002, and most recently for the 2017 constitutional referendum.