Turkish citizens will vote in a referendum on Sunday over constitutional amendments, including the election of president by popular vote, local media reported on Saturday.
Some 42.63 million voters will cast votes at 134,700 ballot boxes and voting will take place between the hours of 7.00 a.m.-4. 00 p.m. in eastern provinces and between 8.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. in western provinces.
Citizens will be able to vote by presenting their voter registration slips and IDs. And authorities will paint one finger of the voters with black ink in order to prevent voting more than once.
The constitutional amendment package to be put to vote on Sunday foresees that general elections are held once in every four years (instead of five); the president is elected by popular vote; the presidential term is lowered from the current seven years to five; the president can stand for re-election for a second term; and a quorum of one third (184) of total number of lawmakers is required to open a parliamentary debate.
Though the referendum process is faced with several difficulties and leaders of opposition parties announced to be against the idea of a referendum, the ruling Justice and Development Party has managed to keep the referendum on track and persuaded the Supreme Election Board (YSK) not to halt the process.
YSK President Muammer Aydin announced on Friday that it will impose a fine of 17 Turkish lira (about 14 U.S. dollars) on those who abstain from casting votes in the referendum.
Source: Xinhua
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