Oylama

Oylama is the act of voting in Turkish, referring to the process by which a group decides on a proposal, motion, or candidate. It is used in a wide range of settings, including legislative bodies, committees, boards, unions, and other organizations. Oylama can decide on political measures, administrative decisions, or organizational positions, and it may result in binding outcomes or advisory opinions depending on the rules governing the body.

There are several methods of oylama. Açık oylama, or open voting, makes individual votes visible to participants and may be conducted by voice, show of hands, or other publicly observable means. Gizli oylama, or secret ballot, conceals how each member voted to protect privacy and reduce pressure. Roll-call voting records each member’s vote by name, while elektronik oylama uses digital systems to cast and tally votes. In some contexts, oylama may also involve votes by abstention, known in Turkish as çekimser oy, which do not count as votes for either side.

The procedure typically involves a motion being proposed, followed by a call for oylama by the presiding officer. Votes are then collected and counted, and the chair announces the result. Tie-breaking rules and requirements for a quorum or a specified majority are defined by the relevant statutes, bylaws, or procedural rules. The effect of the oylama is determined by these rules and may be legally binding or merely consultative.

Etymologically, oylama derives from the Turkish word oy, meaning vote, combined with the suffix -lama to form a noun indicating the process of voting. The term is widely used in Turkish parliamentary, administrative, and organizational contexts to describe the act and method of casting ballots.