Turkish expat turnout for Nov. 1 election hits high

The Nov. 1 election turnout of Turkish nationals living abroad is around 44 percent, Turks Abroad and Related Communities Chair Kudret Bülbül said on Oct. 29, heralding a steady rise in recent elections. 

After voting at customs gates and airports is completed on Nov. 1, an attendance of 45 percent is expected, Bülbül told Anadolu Agency.

The turnout of Turks abroad was just 5 percent in the 2011 general election, 18 percent in the 2014 local election, and 36 percent in the June 7, 2015 general election, he added. 

Turkey has set up ballot boxes in 113 representation offices in a total of 54 countries for voting in the Nov. 1 snap election. Voting, which started on Oct. 8, concluded at the last of these overseas ballot boxes on Oct. 25. 

More than 1.3 million expected ballots of expat votes will be counted at the ATO Congresium in Ankara on the evening of Nov. 1 once ballot boxes close in Turkey.

Security forces and political party representatives guard ballot papers, which are sealed with five lockers that are divided between each of them and one lock that is given to the district election board.

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