Turkish opposition party demands recount in referendum vote on presidential powers

Erdogan supporters declare victory, with 51% in favor of expanding president’s authority, amid accusations of ‘illegal acts’ by election commission Turkey’s main opposition party said Sunday that it will demand a r...

With 97% of votes counted Sunday, 51.4% voted “yes,” backing the constitutional changes. But the opposition said last-minute changes to the voting opened the door for fraud.

The deputy chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) said that “illegal acts are being carried out in favor of the government right now, but ‘No’ will win in the end.”

Turkey’s ‘No’ camp, which opposes expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers, slammed the election commission after it said that voting papers not stamped by the board will be counted valid unless proven to be brought from outside, in a controversial announcement.

In a statement posted on the Supreme Election Board (YSK) website, the board said it received many complaints over the fact voters were given envelopes without stamps from officials.

The board, which convened on Sunday, “decided that ballot papers without stamps and envelopes will be counted valid unless proven they were brought from outside.”