The Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Democrat Party (DP), both carrying out a “no” campaign against the constitutional amendments to be voted on by the nation on Sept. 12, on Friday asked the board to change the stamps. The YSK accepted their request on Saturday.
The YSK’s immediate decision drew the ire of some because the institution failed to show the same hastiness in addressing a problematic issue concerning the situation of at least 200,000 civil servants, who are reassigned each summer and will face difficulties in updating their voter registration, putting at risk their right to vote in the Sept. 12 referendum.
Every summer teachers, members of the military, police officers and health workers are reassigned. Taking into consideration their entire families, about 500,000 people might have difficulty voting in the referendum as they will not be able to register in time.
The stamp controversy started last week after Hürriyet daily columnist and “no” vote proponent Ayşe Arman, who cast her vote at a border gate as she lives abroad, brought the issue to the agenda in her column. Stating that the referendum ballots are white for “yes” votes and brown for “no” votes, she said stamps to be used have “yes” written on them -- meaning that someone who wanted to oppose the constitutional changes would have to stamp “yes” on a “no” ballot. She argued that this would confuse voters and lead to confusion during the vote count.
In accordance with the YSK decision, the existing stamps will be collected from the election boards and replaced by ones that say “choice.” However, the YSK said two different types of stamps will be employed in the referendum: Some will read “yes” and others “choice,” the result of a lack of sufficient stamps of either type.
The decision is also likely to cost the state a great deal, estimated at TL 5 million if at least 100,000 new stamps are produced.
