site.btaBulgarian Immigrants in Turkey Prepare for March 26 General Elections

Bulgarian Immigrants in Turkey Prepare  for March 26 General Elections

Istanbul, February 19 (BTA exclusive by Nahide Deniz) - The associations of Bulgarian immigrants in Turkey are conducting awareness campaigns for the filing of applications for participation in the March 26 general elections. The number of submitted applications will determine the number of polling stations on Turkish territory.

Bayram Cilakoglu, Chair of the Bulturk organization, said that the submission of declarations is highly important. In his opinion, the reduction of voting stations at the latest presidential elections from 136 to 35 was absolutely unfair. "It in fact restricted the democratic rights of voters here. Due to the inadequate number of stations in Turkey, many people could not exercise their right to vote," he went on to say.

A total of 39,000 people voted at the presidential elections in the 35 voting stations in Turkey last November.

However, Cilakoglu predicted that around 60,000 people with dual nationality in Turkey will go to the polls on March 26. Thirty-five stations will not be enough to handle such a high number of voters.

However, over 100 applications are needed to open one station. The deadline for submitting applications expires on February 28.

The immigrant organizations have published forms and detailed instructions on how to full them on their webpages.