Parliamentary elections in Turkey
Grand National Assembly , the legislative chamber in TurkeyParliamentary elections in Turkey determine the composition of the Grand National Assembly for the next five years.[ 1] closed party lists or as independent candidates .
Participation
Age of candidacy
The age of candidacy was 30 in the newly established Republic of Turkey. The age of candidacy dropped from 30 to 25 through a constitutional amendment in 2006.[ 2] 2017 constitutional referendum , it was further lowered to 18.[ 3]
Voting age
According to the Constitution of the Ottoman Empire (1876), the voting age was 25. In the newly established Republic of Turkey, the voting age was reduced to 18 due to the decreasing population. The voting age was increased to 22 in 1934, decreased to 21 in 1987, and 18 in 1995.[ 4]
Voter turnout
The voter turnout for the average of 18 parliamentary election is 81.4%. Turkey has a high voter turnout rate compared to other democracies. The participation rate in Turkey is also higher than the participation rates in countries where compulsory voting is loosely applied. With the exception of 1960–1970, voter turnout rate in Turkey is above the world average from 1950 to the present in Turkey.[ 5]
Voter turnout at parliamentary elections
Election
Registered
Total
Turnout
1950 8,905,743
7,953,085
89.3
1954 10,262,063
9,095,617
88.6
1957 12,078,623
9,250,949
76.6
1961 12,925,395
10,522,716
81.4
1965 13,679,753
9,748,678
71.3
1969 14,788,552
9,516,035
64.3
1973 16,798,164
11,223,843
66.8
1977 21,207,303
15,358,210
72.4
1983 19,767,366
18,238,362
92.3
1987 26,376,926
24,603,541
93.3
1991 29,979,123
25,157,089
83.9
1995 34,155,981
29,101,469
85.2
1999 37,495,217
32,656,070
87.1
2002 41,407,027
32,768,161
79.1
2007 42,799,303
36,056,293
84.2
2011 52,806,322
43,914,948
83.2
2015 56,608,817
47,507,467
83.9
2015 56,949,009
48,537,695
85.2
2018 59,367,469
51,189,444
86.2
2023 60,721,745
55,835,895
87.1
Electoral system
Electoral districts
Turkey is split into 87 electoral districts , which elect a certain number of representatives to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey . Electoral district are allocated a certain number of MPs in proportion to their population. The Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey conducts population reviews of each district before an election and adjusts a district's number of seats according to the latest census.
Number of parliamentary constituencies by province and year
Election
20th century
21st century
'20
'23
'27
'31
'35
'39
'43
'46
'50
'54
'57
'61
'65
'69
'73
'77
'83
'87
'91
'95
'99
'02
'07
'11
'15
'15
'18
'23
#
Total
436
333
335
348
444
470
492
503
477
537
602
450
450
450
450
450
400
450
450
550
550
550
550
550
550
550
600
600
Province
1
Adana
7
3
4
4
8
11
10
10
11
13
16
12
13
13
13
14
12
14
14
17
14
14
14
14
14
14
15
15
2
Adıyaman
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
Afyonkarahisar
8
6
6
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
10
7
7
7
7
6
5
6
6
7
7
7
7
5
5
5
6
6
4
Ağrı
5
2
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
4
5
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
68
Aksaray [ n 1]
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
5
Amasya
7
4
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
6
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
6
Ankara
9
7
8
11
15
16
15
18
18
21
22
21
21
24
26
29
23
26
23
28
28
29
29
31
32
32
36
36
7
Antalya
6
4
5
5
8
8
8
7
7
9
9
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
9
10
12
13
13
14
14
14
16
17
75
Ardahan [ n 2] 2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8
Artvin
1
2
2
10
4
4
5
5
5
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
9
Aydın
7
6
5
6
7
8
9
8
5
8
10
8
8
7
7
7
6
7
6
8
8
8
8
7
7
7
8
8
10
Balikesir
6
8
10
10
12
12
13
14
12
14
15
11
11
10
9
9
7
8
7
9
9
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
74
Bartın
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
72
Batman
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
−
Batum [ n 3] 5
69
Bayburt
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
−
Biga [ n 4] 3
3
11
Bilecik
5
5
4
3
3
5
5
3
3
4
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
12
Bingöl [ n 5] 6
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
13
Bitlis
7
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
14
Bolu
8
5
6
6
10
8
8
8
7
8
8
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
15
Burdur
7
2
2
2
4
3
4
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
16
Bursa
7
6
9
9
12
12
12
13
11
13
14
11
11
11
11
11
10
11
12
14
16
16
16
18
18
18
20
20
17
Çanakkale
4
5
5
6
6
6
7
8
8
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
18
Çankırı
7
4
4
4
8
6
6
5
5
6
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
−
Çatalca [ n 6]
1
19
Çorum
7
6
5
6
7
8
9
8
8
9
10
7
7
7
7
6
5
6
5
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
20
Denizli
6
5
6
6
8
9
10
8
7
9
9
7
7
7
6
6
5
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
7
21
Diyarbakır
7
7
6
4
8
8
6
7
7
8
9
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
10
11
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
81
Düzce
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
22
Edirne
5
3
4
4
4
6
5
5
5
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
23
Elazığ
7
6
7
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
−
Ergani [ n 7] 11
3
24
Erzincan
5
3
3
3
4
7
5
7
5
5
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
25
Erzurum
10
7
7
7
12
9
6
11
10
12
13
9
9
9
9
8
7
7
7
8
8
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
26
Eskişehir
7
4
4
4
5
5
5
7
6
7
8
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
6
26
Gaziantep
6
5
6
5
10
7
8
7
7
8
10
7
7
7
8
8
7
8
9
9
9
10
10
12
12
12
14
14
−
Gelibolu [ n 8] 1
1
28
Giresun
5
5
5
7
7
9
9
8
8
8
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
29
Gümüşhane
6
4
5
3
5
5
5
6
7
6
6
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
30
Hakkâri [ n 9] 6
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
31
Hatay
5
5
6
6
8
9
7
7
7
7
8
7
9
8
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
76
Iğdır
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
32
Isparta
6
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
−
İçel [ n 10] 6
2
2
2
34
Istanbul
12
23
17
18
20
19
28
30
25
29
39
31
31
33
38
44
36
45
50
61
69
70
70
85
88
88
98
98
35
Izmir
8
11
12
12
14
15
17
15
16
20
22
17
17
18
18
19
16
19
19
24
24
24
24
26
26
26
28
28
46
Kahramanmaraş
8
5
5
4
6
5
5
6
7
7
9
6
6
6
7
7
6
7
7
8
9
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
78
Karabük
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
70
Karaman
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
36
Kars
3
2
6
5
8
10
8
10
10
10
12
9
9
9
8
8
6
6
5
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
37
Kastamonu
8
8
6
8
9
11
9
11
10
10
10
7
7
6
6
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
38
Kayseri
7
5
6
5
10
8
10
9
9
9
11
8
8
8
8
8
7
8
7
9
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
71
Kırıkkale
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
39
Kırklareli
3
3
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
40
Kırşehir [ n 11] 7
5
3
3
4
5
4
4
3
5
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
79
Kilis
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
41
Kocaeli
6
6
7
7
10
10
13
10
11
12
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
7
7
9
10
9
9
11
11
11
13
14
42
Konya
10
10
13
14
15
15
15
16
17
19
21
16
16
16
16
16
13
14
13
16
16
16
16
14
14
14
15
15
−
Kozan [ n 12] 5
2
43
Kütahya
6
8
7
12
11
10
12
10
10
8
8
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
5
5
−
Lazistan [ n 13] 6
44
Malatya
11
5
6
6
9
10
11
12
11
12
9
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
45
Manisa
9
10
10
11
12
13
12
12
12
12
14
11
11
11
10
10
8
9
9
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
10
10
47
Mardin
6
6
5
3
7
8
7
10
7
7
8
6
6
6
6
6
5
6
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
33
Mersin
7
2
2
3
5
7
8
8
7
8
9
7
7
7
7
8
7
9
9
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
13
13
48
Muğla
11
3
4
4
6
6
6
5
5
6
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
49
Muş [ n 14] 7
3
4
4
2
2
3
2
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
50
Nevşehir
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
51
Niğde
6
4
4
4
7
7
8
7
8
8
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
−
Oltu [ n 15] 2
52
Ordu
5
6
6
7
8
8
9
8
9
10
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
6
8
7
7
7
6
5
5
6
6
80
Osmaniye [ n 16] 3
2
5
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
53
Rize [ n 17]
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
54
Sakarya
8
6
6
6
6
5
5
6
6
7
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
55
Samsun
6
3
6
7
9
9
11
10
10
12
14
11
11
11
10
10
8
9
9
11
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
56
Siirt
6
2
2
2
6
5
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
57
Sinop
6
4
3
4
6
5
5
5
5
6
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
58
Sivas
8
7
7
7
11
11
15
12
13
14
15
11
11
10
9
8
7
7
6
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
−
Siverek [ n 18] 6
4
63
Şanlıurfa
5
6
5
6
7
7
6
7
7
8
9
7
7
6
7
7
5
7
8
9
11
11
11
12
12
12
14
14
−
Şebinkarahisar [ n 19] 5
4
3
3
73
Şırnak
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
59
Tekirdağ
2
3
4
5
5
6
6
5
6
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
8
60
Tokat
7
4
5
6
8
9
8
10
9
9
10
7
7
7
7
7
6
6
6
7
6
7
7
5
5
5
5
5
61
Trabzon
11
7
8
9
9
11
11
12
12
12
12
9
9
9
8
8
6
7
6
8
7
8
8
6
6
6
6
6
62
Tunceli [ n 20] 6
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
64
Uşak
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
65
Van
7
3
2
2
3
3
4
3
3
4
5
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
77
Yalova
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
66
Yozgat
7
4
5
6
7
7
7
8
7
8
9
6
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
4
4
4
4
4
67
Zonguldak
4
7
6
10
10
11
9
10
10
12
9
9
9
9
9
8
9
7
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
#
Total
436
333
335
348
444
470
492
503
477
537
602
450
450
450
450
450
400
450
450
550
550
550
550
550
550
550
600
600
Seats allocation
Parliamentary seats are allocated according to the d’Hondt method in a party-list proportional representation system.[ 6] electoral threshold of 7%. Parties can by-pass this rule by forming an electoral alliance or participate as independents. The electoral threshold was introduced by the military regime after the 1980 coup d'état , in a bid to maintain political stability.[ 7]
From 1946 onwards, all elections were direct elections . In the elections held between 1946 and 1957, a party block voting system was applied. Under this system, the party that obtained a plurality of votes in a constituency would get all the deputies in that constituency. The system resulted in a landslide victories . For example, the Democrat Party received 58% of the votes in the 1954 election , but won 93% of the seats in the parliament.
Proportional representation was used for the first time after the adoption of the Constitution of 1961 . For the elections of 1961 , a party-list proportional representation with the D'Hondt method in 67 constituencies was used. In order to receive seats in a constituency, parties needed to receive more votes in that constituency that the Hare quota . It was also the first time that the number of deputies was fixed and determined as 450 seats.
In the 1965 election , the national remnant system was used. In the elections held in 1969, 1973 and 1977, the d'Hondt electoral system was applied without a threshold. A nationwide electoral threshold of 10% and a constituency electoral threshold was introduced following the changes to the law in 1983. In addition to that, a quota system was also used in the 1987 and 1991 elections . From 1995 onwards, only a nationwide electoral threshold is used.[ 8]
Campaigning
The Law on Basic Provisions regulates the campaign and aims to ensure fair and equitable opportunities for contestants.[ 9] [ 10]
Political parties that received at least three per cent of votes in the last parliamentary elections are entitled to annual public funding on a proportional basis, as well as campaign funding but only for parliamentary elections. Parties also receive funding through membership fees and individual donations. Donations from public legal entities, state and public organizations and foreign sources are not allowed. An individual may donate up to a certain amount annually to a party. There is no ceiling for annual party and campaign-related expenditure. Parties declare their campaign funds solely through annual financial reports. The Constitutional Court audits the reports. Independent candidates declare their campaign funds through personal tax declarations. Possible sanctions for breaches include warnings, imprisonment from three months to three years, monetary fines and dissolution of the party.[ 9]
Summary of past elections
The list below shows the election results of the multi-party period in Turkey since 1946.
Election
First party
Second party
Third party
Other parties entering the parliament
Cabinets formed
1946
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Democrat Party Celal Bayar )
National Development Party
Independent Peker ,I. Saka ,II. Saka ,Günaltay
1950
Democrat Party Celal Bayar )52,67%
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Nation Party Yusuf Hikmet Bayur )Independent I. Menderes ,II. Menderes
1954
Democrat Party Adnan Menderes )57,61%
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Republican Nation Party Osman Bölükbaşı )Independent III. Menderes ,IV. Menderes
1957
Democrat Party Adnan Menderes )47,87%
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Republican Nation Party Osman Bölükbaşı )Liberty Party V. Menderes
1961
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )36,72%
Justice Party Ragıp Gümüşpala )
Republican Villagers Nation Party Osman Bölükbaşı )New Turkey Party VIII. İnönü ,IX. İnönü ,X. İnönü ,Ürgüplü
1965
Justice Party Süleyman Demirel )52,87%
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Nation Party Osman Bölükbaşı )New Turkey Party (19 MPs)Workers' Party of Turkey (14 MPs)Republican Villagers Nation Party (11 MPs)Independent (1 MPs)
I. Demirel
1969
Justice Party Süleyman Demirel )46,53%
Republican People's Party İsmet İnönü )
Republican Reliance Party Turhan Feyzioğlu )Independent (13 MPs) Birlik Partisi (8 MPs)Nation Party (6 MPs)New Turkey Party (6 MPs)Workers' Party of Turkey (2 MPs)Nationalist Movement Party (1 MPs)
II. Demirel ,III. Demirel ,I. Erim ,II. Erim ,Melen ,Talu
1973
Republican People's Party Bülent Ecevit )33,29%
Justice Party Süleyman Demirel )
Democratic Party Ferruh Bozbeyli )National Salvation Party (48 MPs)Republican Reliance Party (13 MPs)Independent (6 MPs) Nationalist Movement Party (3 MPs)Unity Party (1 MPs)
I. Ecevit ,Irmak ,IV. Demirel
1977
Republican People's Party Bülent Ecevit )41,38%
Justice Party Süleyman Demirel )
National Salvation Party Necmettin Erbakan )Nationalist Movement Party (16 MPs)Independent (4 MPs)Republican Reliance Party (3 MPs)Democratic Party (1 MPs)
II. Ecevit ,V. Demirel ,III. Ecevit ,VI. Demirel ,Ulusu
1983
Motherland Party Turgut Özal )45,14%
Populist Party Necdet Calp )
Nationalist Democracy Party Turgut Sunalp )−
I. Özal
1987
Motherland Party Turgut Özal )36,31%
Social Democratic Populist Party Erdal İnönü )
True Path Party Süleyman Demirel )−
II. Özal ,Akbulut ,I. Yılmaz
1991
True Path Party Süleyman Demirel )27,03%
Motherland Party Mesut Yılmaz )
Social Democratic Populist Party Erdal İnönü )Welfare Party (62 MPs)Democratic Left Party (7 MPs)
VII. Demirel ,I. Çiller ,II. Çiller ,III. Çiller ,II. Yılmaz
1995
Welfare Party Necmettin Erbakan )21,38%
Motherland Party Mesut Yılmaz )
True Path Party Tansu Çiller )Democratic Left Party (76 MPs)Republican People's Party (49 MPs)
Erbakan ,III. Yılmaz ,IV. Ecevit
1999
Democratic Left Party Bülent Ecevit )22,19%
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )
Virtue Party Recai Kutan )Motherland Party (86 MPs)True Path Party (85 MPs)Independent (3 MPs)
V. Ecevit
2002
Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan )34,28%
Republican People's Party Deniz Baykal )
True Path Party Tansu Çiller )Independent Gül ,I. Erdoğan
2007
Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan )46,66%
Republican People's Party Deniz Baykal )
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )Independent II. Erdoğan
2011
Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan )49,83%
Republican People's Party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu )
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )Independent III. Erdoğan ,I. Davutoğlu
2015June
Justice and Development Party Ahmet Davutoğlu )40,87%
Republican People's Party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu )
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )Peoples' Democratic Party II. Davutoğlu
2015November
Justice and Development Party Ahmet Davutoğlu )49,49%
Republican People's Party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu )
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )Peoples' Democratic Party III. Davutoğlu ,Yıldırım
2018
Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan )42,49%
Republican People's Party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu )
Peoples' Democratic Party Sezai Temelli ve Pervin Buldan )Nationalist Movement Party İYİ Parti IV. Erdoğan
2023
Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdoğan )35,62%
Republican People's Party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu )
Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli )Good Party Green Left Party New Welfare Party Workers' Party of Turkey V. Erdoğan
By-elections
By-elections in Turkey are regulated in accordance with Article 7 of the Law on Parliamentary Elections. Accordingly, by-elections are held in case of a vacancy in the membership of the Parliament. According to the constitution, by-elections are held once in each election period, and by-elections cannot be held unless 30 months have passed and 1 year before the parliamentary elections. However, if a province or constituency does not have any members in the Parliament, by-elections are held in that constituency on the first Sunday after 90 days following the vacancy.[ 11]
See also
References
^ Aksaray was a province between 1924-1933 and was a district of Niğde from 1933 to 1989.
^ Ardahan was a province until 1926 and was a district of Kars from 1926 to 1992.
^ It was left to Georgia with the Treaty of Moscow in 1921.
^ In 1923, it became a district of Çanakkale province.
^ Genç until 1926, district of Elazig province between 1927-1929 and district of Muş province between 1929-1936.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Istanbul province.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Diyarbakır province.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Çanakkale province.
^ District of Van province between 1933-1936.
^ It merged with Mersin Province in 1933.
^ District of Nevşehir Province between 1954-1957.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Adana province.
^ In 1923, the province of Rize was established in place of the Lazistan Sanjak
^ District of Bitlis province between 1925-1929.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Erzurum province.
^ Cebel-i Bereket Province until 1933, district of Adana Province between 1933-1996.
^ Between 1933 and 1936, it merged with Çoruh Province, with the center being Rize.
^ In 1926, it became a district of Şanlıurfa province.
^ It became a district of Giresun province in 1933
^ District of Elazığ between 1926-1936.
