External Voting and the Democratic Boundary Problem: A Democratic Inclusion Analysis of the Turkish Case

This study delves into Turkey's historical trajectory of external voting by scrutinizing it through three fundamental democratic inclusion principles: the All Subjected Principle, the All Affected Principle, and the Stakeholder Principle. By exploring Turkey's evolution in external voting practices alongside these principles, this research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of Turkey's engagement with its diaspora and the implications for its electoral processes. From the absence of external voting laws before 1950 to the establishment of ballot boxes abroad in 2014, Turkey's journey elucidates the intricate interplay between normative democratic principles and practical electoral regulations. Through an examination of Turkey's external voting history, this study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the boundaries of democratic inclusion and the evolving nature of political engagement beyond national borders. The findings cover Turkey's external voting alteration across four stages, each investigated through democratic inclusion principles. From the absence of legislation pre-1950 to the establishment of ballot boxes abroad in 2014, Turkey's journey reflects varying degrees of alignment with the All Subjected, All Affected, and Stakeholder Principles. The study found that Turkey has gradually extended its inclusiveness to its diaspora based on citizenship, even without the limitation of Bauböck's Stakeholder Principle.