Volunteers line up for fair count at ballot box

As observers of political parties fight tooth and nail at the ballot boxes during and after the election day, volunteers have lined up for a fair-and-square count of the votes in the June 7 elections. 

The organizers of two of the non-partisan initiatives that were established on a volunteer-basis model and with the aim of ensuring democratic and fair elections, "Vote and Beyond" (Oy ve Ötesi) and "Platform for Votes of Turkey" (Türkiye'nin Oylar? Platformu), said while everyone should go to the polls and cast their vote, they should also protect their votes. 

I??k Sedef Gürbüz, one of the spokespersons for the Türkiye'nin Oylar? platform, said they would be present at the polls on June 7 amid collaborations with the Atatürkçü Dü?ünce Derne?i (Kemalist Thought Association) and Demokratik ve Güvenli Seçim Giri?imi (Democratic and Safe Elections Initiative), adding that they were also receiving support from various associations such as the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB). 

"We are not a side. We work so that each of the votes of citizens ? is reflected in the ballot box results.

When a vote goes missing, it means that your right to speak has been taken from you," Gürbüz said, adding that they would have observers in 65 provinces and also a crew of 1,500 analysts to process the information brought to them. 

Gürbüz said that while their observers were going to be at the ballot boxes and watch and help the ballot box boards, they were also going to intervene and initiate legal necessary procedures when an illegal situation occurs.

The observers will send a copy of the votes' reports to the platform and the analysis crew, who will be before their...