What to know about voting process in Türkiye | Turkish voters to cast their votes in 5 steps during May 28 runoff

In the upcoming Presidential Election on May 28, voters will follow a five-step process to cast their votes. They will be directed to vote at the same location where they voted in the previous May 14 elections, specifically at their designated ballot box. Voting hours for the Presidential Election will be in effect from 08:00 to 17:00 across the country. However, in the event that there are voters waiting at the ballot box to cast their votes even after the voting deadline has passed, the chairman of the ballot box committee will ensure that they are able to vote in an orderly manner. In order to vote in the Presidential Election, voters must present an official document that clearly verifies their identity. Accepted documents include the identity card with the Republic of Türkiye's identity number, a cold-stamped identity card issued by official offices, a passport, a marriage certificate, a military service certificate, a driver's license, or a professional identity card issued to judges, prosecutors, members of the high judicial body, lawyers, notary publics, and military personnel. To ensure the integrity and privacy of the voting process, it will be strictly prohibited to bring video recorders or communication devices such as mobile phones, cameras, or film cameras into the voting place. Voters will be required to leave such devices with the ballot box committee, who will safely hold them until the voting process is concluded. During the voting process, voters will indicate their preference for the presidential candidate by pressing the 'PREFERENCE' or 'YES' seal on the ballot without exceeding the designated section for their preferred candidate. To ensure the validity of the vote, no additional signs or marks should be made on the ballot paper apart from the designated seal. After placing the envelope containing their vote in the ballot box, the voter will proceed to sign their name next to the designated space on the ballot voters list. This signature serves as an additional verification to ensure the authenticity of the voter's participation in the election process. On the morning of the election, the ballot box committee, composed of the chairman, civil servant, and representatives from the political parties based on the previous election results, will convene at the polling place at 07:00. The committee will commence by reciting the oath, following which the president will seal the ballot box. Next, the voting envelopes will be counted, and the packages containing the ballot papers will be opened. Preparations for the election will be completed between 07:00 and 08:00, and the voting process will officially commence at 08:00, continuing until 17:00. The ballot box committee officer will verify the identity of each voter and locate their name on the ballot box voters list. After conducting the necessary checks, the officer will provide the voter with the Presidential Election combined ballot paper, envelope, and seal, and direct them to cast their vote inside the voting booth. The chairman of the ballot box committee will remind voters not to include any additional materials in the envelope, caution against making any marks on the ballot or envelope, and emphasize that only one ballot paper will be provided to avoid invalidating their vote. Visually impaired voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes using a template provided by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), specifically designed to align with their respective ballot papers. Individuals with disabilities, paralysis, or noticeable physical disabilities can exercise their voting rights with the assistance of a relative who is an eligible voter in the same constituency and present at the ballot box. The chairman or members of the ballot box committee are not allowed to enter the voting booth or assist disabled voters during the voting process. Once the ballot boxes are closed, the counting of votes will commence. After the results are recorded in the minutes, two political party members will be randomly selected by the chairman of the ballot box committee.