Muhtar is the title given to the person responsible for local administration in a village or neighborhood. In other words, it is an elected position. The smallest administrative unit is called a muhtarlık. The muhtar chosen by the residents of a neighborhood or village serves a five-year term. Muhtars carry out their duties alongside four elected council members (azalar) during their term and receive a monthly allowance for their service.
What Are the Duties Assigned to a Muhtar?
The primary responsibilities muhtars must fulfill during their term include the following:
- Village muhtars identify needs such as roads and fountains and report these requirements to the relevant local authorities.
- They coordinate with the appropriate authorities for maintenance and repair of shared facilities like roads, fountains, and bridges when necessary.
- Muhtars act as local representatives of the central government in their area and are responsible for informing residents about government programs and regulations.
- Organizing communal work (imece) for village-wide tasks is the muhtar’s responsibility.
- During elections, muhtars participate in ballot and polling station procedures.
- They ensure voters in the neighborhood receive their voter cards when elections are held.
- They are responsible for posting identification lists and draft enlistment lists for those going to military service.
- Muhtars serve on committees and commissions that determine property values for purposes such as property tax assessments.
- They inspect signage on streets, avenues, and squares and notify the municipality about any missing or damaged signs.
- Muhtars assist residents who have lost identification or need to obtain new documents by helping with the necessary paperwork.
- They help vulnerable residents—such as people with disabilities, the needy, and the elderly—access state support and benefits.
- In the event of contagious disease outbreaks, muhtars report the names of affected residents to healthcare institutions.
- They also identify residents who may qualify for national health assistance programs, such as the green card system.
What Responsibilities Do Muhtars Hold?
Muhtar duties primarily revolve around addressing neighborhood needs. Muhtars are elected and serve five-year terms. They are chosen by village or neighborhood residents and do not run as political party candidates. When making decisions affecting the community, a muhtar acts together with the council members chosen by the public. In many villages, decisions are made through communal deliberation. Decisions made by a muhtar can be appealed; in such cases, senior civil authorities—such as the district governor (kaymakam) or the provincial governor (vali)—may annul decisions. There are differences in responsibilities between neighborhood muhtars and village muhtars.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Muhtar?
Those who wish to run for muhtar must meet the following conditions:
- Candidates must be citizens of the Republic of Turkey.
- They must be residents of the neighborhood or village where they intend to run.
- Candidates must have lived in the area for at least one year prior to the muhtar election.
- Applicants must be at least 25 years old.
- Candidates must not have a criminal record for offenses such as theft, forgery, or smuggling.
- Individuals who are legally prohibited from performing public duties cannot run for muhtar.
- Candidates must be literate in Turkish.
How Are Muhtars Elected?
Muhtars are elected directly by the local population in muhtar elections. These elections are held independently of political parties, so parties do not appoint muhtar candidates. The muhtar’s term of office is five years.
Is Any Training Required to Become a Muhtar?
Prospective muhtar candidates are not required to complete any specific training before running. However, once elected, muhtars receive training organized by the district governor’s office that oversees their area. Typical training topics include:
- Local government
- Village and neighborhood administration regulations
- Communication
- Computer technologies
- Muhtar information systems
- Relevant legislation
- Muhtar powers and responsibilities
How Much Do Muhtars Earn?
Muhtar allowances are paid by the provincial special administrations. Payments are made in a single installment on the fifteenth day of each month. The amount varies depending on the province to which the muhtarlık belongs. In 2020, the average monthly payment was around 2,000 TL, rising to approximately 2,500 TL when premiums were included. Muhtars in metropolitan areas received about 2,554 TL, while those in smaller provinces received about 2,000 TL.
How Are Muhtars Removed from Office?
Removal of a muhtar is governed by law. Grounds for removal include:
- Failure to perform muhtar or council duties or commission of dishonorable crimes can result in removal; such decisions are made by the provincial governor or district governor.
- If a muhtar neglects duties or becomes subject to administrative or criminal investigations, they may be suspended; suspension decisions are issued by the Ministry of Interior.
- If it is discovered before an election that a candidate committed dishonorable crimes or participated in terrorist activities, they can be disqualified and the election record annulled.
- Muhtars found to have abused their office after being elected can be removed from duty. In such cases, governors or district governors remove them from office if they are convicted or shown to have committed crimes.
What Are the Duties of the Elder (İhtiyar) Council?
The elder council assists the village muhtar in administrative matters. The council meets weekly to discuss local affairs and is convened by the village muhtar. The council prioritizes village tasks and works with the muhtar to complete them. Health and road-related projects typically take priority. If residents lodge complaints, the district governor or provincial governor may intervene in the muhtar’s or council’s activities and, if necessary, suspend them.
Which Institutions Are Muhtars Affiliated With?
The institutions muhtars are affiliated with are defined by law. Villages and neighborhoods are administered by the muhtar and the elder council. Establishing or merging neighborhoods within a municipality is done by decision of the provincial governor or district governor. Muhtars must determine residents’ needs through direct engagement and report to relevant institutions to improve local quality of life.
Cooperating with public institutions and preparing reports for authorities when needed are core muhtar responsibilities. Municipalities are obligated to address needs reported by muhtars. Muhtars operate under the supervision of district governorates and represent the legal entity of the village. Their term is five years, and significant decisions about village matters are made jointly with the four council members.
In brief, muhtar responsibilities include:
- Helping eligible residents obtain health assistance cards (green cards).
- Recording life events such as marriages and military service.
- Distributing voter cards to residents during election periods.