The first meeting between the Ministry of the Interior and representatives of political parties took place today, in view of the 2026 Parliamentary Elections. According to a statement by the Director General of the Ministry of the Interior, Dr Elikkos A. Ilias, the meeting was informative and preparatory in nature and covered the full range of issues relating to the conduct of the electoral process.
Legal framework and key timetable
During the meeting, the legal framework governing the Parliamentary Elections was presented and discussed, along with the main dates of the electoral timetable. As already known, following consultation with the House of Representatives, the elections will be held on Sunday, 24 May 2026.
The decision of the House for its early dissolution is expected on 23 April 2026, while the relevant Decree of the Minister of the Interior will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic the following day. On the same date, the General Returning Officer, the Assistant General Returning Officer, and the Returning Officers for each electoral district will be appointed.
Electoral register and right to vote
The final date for registration on the electoral register has been set as 2 April 2026. The right to vote is granted to all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus aged 18 and over who have their usual residence in Cyprus for the last six months.
The right to register is also granted to young people who reach the age of 18 by election day, provided that they submit an application between 3 January and 2 April 2026. At the same time, registration is also available to Turkish Cypriots who hold an identity card of the Republic of Cyprus with an address in the government-controlled areas. For those up to the age of 25, the option of submitting an application electronically is also provided.
When exercising their voting right, citizens must present either an electoral booklet or an identity card of the Republic of Cyprus.
What does not change in the 2026 Elections
It was recalled that the legislative provisions concerning automatic registration on the permanent electoral register, the reduction of the voting age to 17, and the acceptance of a driving licence as a means of identification will not apply to the 2026 Parliamentary Elections. These changes, following amendments by the House of Representatives, will come into force from 1 July 2027 and will apply to the Presidential Elections of 2028.
Concerning data on young voters
Particular emphasis was placed on the numerical data of the electoral register. According to the Civil Registry and Migration Department system, 160,094 Cypriot citizens over the age of 18 have not been registered to date.
In the 18–35 age group, out of a total of 165,192 citizens who will have the right to vote in 2026, 54,994 – a percentage of 33.29% – remain outside the electoral register. The problem is more pronounced in the 18–31 age group, where the percentage of unregistered citizens reaches 39.32%, while in the 18–25 age group it exceeds 52%.
Information campaigns and registration of young people
The Ministry of the Interior will send letters to all those who reach the age of 18 by election day, with the aim of encouraging registration. At the same time, in cooperation with the Press and Information Office, two information campaigns will be implemented: the first concerning registration on the electoral register and the second aimed at encouraging participation in voting.
Polling stations abroad
With regard to voters abroad, a special electoral register is being compiled for those who declare their intention to exercise their voting right outside Cyprus. Declarations will be submitted within the framework of the final supplementary electoral register, from 3 January to 2 April 2026.
Submission of candidacies and results
The submission of candidacies has been set for Wednesday, 6 May 2026. The official election results will be announced on the evening of 24 May, following the completion of the count, while the ceremony for the proclamation of the elected Members of Parliament will take place the following day.
Transfer of a seat and changes by district
The meeting also discussed the recent adoption of the law on the redistribution of parliamentary seats by electoral district. Based on updated data from the permanent electoral register, it was decided to transfer one seat from Nicosia to Paphos.
The ballot paper and its particularities
A sample of the ballot paper was also presented by the Deputy Director of the Government Printing Office. Due to the large number of registered political parties – 25 at present, with a possible increase to 28 – the ballot paper is expected to differ from previous elections.
In the event that more than 15 electoral lists participate, printing on both sides of the ballot paper is envisaged, with the possibility of including 24 to 28 columns. The secrecy of the vote will be ensured through folding, without a defined front or back side.
Financial obligations and transparency
Particular emphasis was placed on the financial obligations of political parties and candidates. As highlighted, the objective is to improve the current situation, as it has been observed that some parties do not respond in a timely manner to their obligations.
Transparency and accountability were highlighted as fundamental pillars of democracy, with the publication of election expense reports and the financial data of parties constituting a key tool for informing citizens. Oversight is carried out by the Auditor General of the Republic.
European Regulation on political advertising
Finally, the provisions of the European Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising were presented, which applies from 10 October 2025. The Regulation aims to enhance transparency, protect democracy, and ensure the responsible use of personal data in political campaigns.
In compliance with European requirements, the Ministry of the Interior has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives, designating the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority as the competent enforcement authority, while providing for effective and dissuasive sanctions for violators.
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