1. Electoral Structure: Turkey follows a republican parliamentary democracy system. The country is divided into 81 provinces. Elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the Grand National Assembly and the President of Turkey.
2. Grand National Assembly: The Grand National Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Turkey. It has 600 members, known as Members of Parliament (MPs). MPs are elected from electoral districts across the country. Each district elects a varying number of MPs based on its population size. The term for a Member of Parliament is four years.
3. Voting System: Turkey uses a proportional representation system with a 10% electoral threshold for the Grand National Assembly elections. Political parties present lists of candidates for each electoral district, and voters cast their votes for a political party rather than individual candidates. Seats in the Grand National Assembly are allocated proportionally based on the overall share of the national vote that each party receives, provided they surpass the 10% threshold.
4. Presidential Election: The President of Turkey is elected through a direct popular vote. The presidential election takes place every five years. Candidates can be nominated by political parties or run as independent candidates. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of votes in the first round, a second round is held between the top two candidates, and the one who receives the majority of votes in the second round is declared the winner.
5. High Electoral Council: The High Electoral Council of Turkey is an independent body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in the country. It ensures the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nominations, and the conduct of elections.
6. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in national elections in Turkey, a person must be a citizen of Turkey and at least 18 years old on the day of the election. Voters must be registered on the electoral roll.
7. Election Timing: The specific dates for elections in Turkey are determined by the authorities and can vary. The President has the authority to call for early elections or extend the term of the Grand National Assembly.
