Turkish expats started casting their votes for the referendum at border gates and airports on Aug. 3, and they will continue to do so until Sept. 12. According to airport officials, most Turkish expats visit Turkey without checking their voter registration at the consulates in their relevant countries. A majority of them do not have their registration and thus fail to cast a vote for the referendum on the planned changes to the Constitution. Many others do not have required documents for a vote.
Mutlu Polat, a Turkish citizen who lives in Norway, was not allowed to vote as his registration record shows him eligible to vote in Norway instead of Turkey. He told reporters that he would cast a vote at the consulate when he returns to Norway.
Similarly, Ayhan Yılmaz was denied the right to cast a vote at the airport. Yılmaz returned to Turkey with his family to be able to vote in the referendum. “Our registration record does not appear at the airport. It does not appear in the US, either. I think we are still registered in our hometown. I will say ‘yes’ on the referendum. I have many reasons to say so. I want civilian rule to reign in Turkey. The Constitution needs to be changed to get rid of all suspicions concerning democracy,” he noted.
Sept. 12 will be a historic day for Turkey because the most comprehensive amendments to Turkey’s current Constitution, prepared by the 1980 coup leaders, will be presented to a public vote. Among other things, the reform package includes changes to the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). Furthermore, the package repeals Article 15 of the Constitution, which gives immunity to the generals responsible for the Sept. 12, 1980 coup. On the other hand, Nafiz Utkun, who is currently on a visit to Turkey from London, said he did not face any problems when voting at the airport. “I cast a ‘yes’ vote. I hope ‘yes’ votes will bring good to Turkey,” he added.
