Voting eligibility
Every citizen of the Republic has the right to vote in Parliamentary Elections, provided they:
- Have reached the age of 18 by election day
- Have had their habitual residence in Cyprus for the last six months before submitting an application for registration in the electoral roll
Under current electoral law, any eligible person must apply for registration in the electoral register and obtain an electoral booklet within 30 days of acquiring the right to do so. In any case, registration must be completed before the deadline for the supplementary electoral roll.
For the 2026 Parliamentary Elections, the final deadline for voter registration was 2 April 2026.
“Where Do I Vote” App
Through the app, voters will be able to quickly find their designated polling station by entering their ID number and date of birth, which will provide them with immediate information on where they are registered to vote.
https://wtv.elections.moi.gov.cy/?lang=en
Voting hours
Voting is direct and secret.
Polling stations operate as follows:
- 07:00 – Voting begins
- 12:00 – One-hour break
- 13:00 – Voting resumes
- 18:00 – Voting ends
If necessary, the presiding officer may extend voting hours up to midnight, provided voters are still waiting outside the polling station.
Voter identification and entry to polling stations
To be allowed to vote, an elector must:
- Be registered in the electoral roll of the assigned polling station
- If registered elsewhere, officials will direct the voter to the correct station
If a person failed to register in time, they cannot vote, and no changes can be made on election day. Electoral rolls are finalised well in advance by the Ministry of Interior and cannot be altered at polling stations.
- Present either:
- An electoral booklet, or
- A valid identity card
- Digital Citizen app
Without one of these documents, voting is not permitted even if the voter is registered.
If an electoral booklet is lost or damaged, it can be replaced via application to the relevant District Officer, up to the day before the election.
- Be confirmed as not having already voted in the same election
Enclaved voters
Citizens of Cyprus living in the enclaved areas of Karpasia and Kyrenia may vote at polling stations in the free areas. They must present:
- Identity card or passport, or
- Any official Republic of Cyprus document with a photograph
Ballot paper colours
Different ballot colours are used for each electoral district to avoid confusion and assist the counting process:
- Nicosia: White
- Limassol: Yellow
- Famagusta: Blue
- Larnaca: Pink
- Paphos: Green
- Kyrenia: Orange
Voters are advised to ensure they receive the correct ballot for their district before voting.
Official stamp requirement
All ballots must bear the official stamp of the Republic of Cyprus before being used. If a ballot is not stamped, it is considered invalid and will not be counted.
How to vote
Each ballot includes a large box under each party list. Voters may mark one of the following symbols:
- “X”
- “+”
- “√”
Ballots are folded in a fan-like manner for ease of use.
After receiving the ballot, and once party representatives confirm the voter’s identity, the voter proceeds alone to the voting booth to cast their vote freely, secretly and without influence.
Restrictions on voting
Voters may not:
- Vote for candidates from different party lists
- Split their vote between different combinations
- Vote for more than one independent candidate
They may either:
- Vote for a single party list (even if it includes fewer candidates than available seats), or
- Vote for one independent candidate
Preference votes
Voters choosing a party list may also express preference for individual candidates by marking a preference symbol next to their names.
Under Article 29 of the Law on the Election of Members of Parliament:
- One preference vote is allowed per four parliamentary seats per constituency
- Any remainder after division allows for one additional preference vote
Maximum preference votes per district:
- Nicosia: 5
- Limassol: 3
- Famagusta: 3
- Larnaca: 2
- Paphos: 2
- Kyrenia: 1
Preference voting is optional.
Who is entitled to preference votes
Party leaders or coalition leaders do not require preference votes, as they are deemed to receive all votes cast for their party list.
For the 2026 elections, the following candidates do not require preference votes:
- Annita Demetriou, DISY, Larnaca district
- Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL, Nicosia district
- Nicolas Papadopoulos, DIKO, Nicosia district
- Christos Christou, ELAM, Nicosia district
- Odysseas Michaelides, ALMA – Citizens for Cyprus, Nicosia district
- Kyriakos Andreou, Green Party of Cyprus, Nicosia district
- Christos Clerides, Democratic Change, Nicosia district
- Celestina De Petro, Far-Left Resistance Communism, Nicosia district
All other candidates, including party leaders across districts, require preference votes to be elected.
Voting for persons with visual or physical disabilities
Voters with visual impairment or physical disabilities may vote independently if they choose, by informing the presiding officer.
Alternatively, they may request assistance from:
- The presiding officer (with an assistant present), or
- A trusted person of their choice
Officials may explain the procedure but must not influence voting choices in any way.
Replacement of damaged ballots
If a voter accidentally damages a ballot, they may return it and request a replacement from the presiding officer, who is obliged to provide a new one.
Secrecy of the vote
Voting is strictly secret. Special voting booths are provided to ensure privacy and independence.
After voting, the voter folds the ballot and places it into the ballot box personally, without revealing their choice to anyone.
Party representatives may observe the process but are not allowed to interfere.
Additional measures ensuring secrecy
- Voting booths are positioned to prevent observation by officials
- Voters must not mark ballots with any symbols other than the permitted ones (“X”, “+”, “√”)
- Any additional marks, writing, numbers or identifiers that could reveal identity invalidate the ballot
- Tearing or removing parts of the ballot is prohibited
These rules aim to protect voters from pressure, interference or attempts to influence their vote.
Election results timeline
The Chief Returning Officer estimated that within two to three hours after the closure of the polls, it will be known which political parties will enter Parliament and how many MPs each party will secure.
He added that the names of the elected Members of Parliament are expected to be known around 1–2 a.m. on Monday, 25 May.
Also read: Voting hours announced for Sunday elections in Cyprus and abroad
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