2.8 million Turkish expats are registered to vote worldwide in contest expected to feature PM Erdoğan, but only 3 per cent are in Britain
The number of UK-based voters in this summer’s Turkish presidential election could be lower than forecast, according to figures revealed this week.
A little over 76,000 Turkish passport holders are eligible to vote across the Britain in the contest, which is expected to feature Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against as-yet unnamed rivals from opposition parties.
The figure is likely to surprise analysts, who had predicted a UK electorate closer to 100,000, based on data from the 2011 census.
The figures, obtained by the expatriate voting lobby group Gurbetin Oyları and confirmed by Turkish officials to Londra Gazete as “reasonably accurate”, suggest there are 2.8 million Turkish citizens registered as overseas voters. Nearly half are based in Germany.
The Turkish Electoral Commission has not yet announced a deadline for registrations ahead of the presidential election in August, so the electorate may swell further still.
VOTING IN KENSINGTON
It is understood that voting station for the 76,736 Turkish registered nationals will take place at a single London venue for all UK-based voters.
The information from Gurbetin Oyları reveals Kensington Olympia Centre, to the west of central London, is one of the venues being considered by officials.
However, it is understood other venues are also being looked at.
Voting will take place in Britain on the weekend of 2-3 August, one week before the election in Turkey, to allow time for the ballots to be flown back to Ankara for counting.
All Turkish passport holders over the age of 18 are eligible to vote but must ensure they are enrolled on the “Overseas Electoral Register” (Yurtdışı Seçmen Kütüğü) first.
Voters can check the website of the Turkish Electoral Commission (YSK) website (by visiting www.ysk.gov.tr) to see whether they are registered.
TURNOUT FEARS
There are fears turnout could be affected by the decision to create a single huge polling station, particularly for Turkish citizens living in other parts of the country who are reluctant to travel to London. Multiple polling stations have being arranged for Turkish voters in other countries including Belgium, Germany and Greece.
Analysts had used other information to predict a higher number of voter registrations than seen in this week’s figures. According to the 2011 UK census, for example, 91,115 people registered their place of birth as Turkey. Separately, the Turkish Consulate has previously said upwards of 170,000 Turkish nationals had applied to them for consular assistance.
