Newsroom
As Cyprus prepares for the 2026 parliamentary elections, authorities warn that a significant portion of eligible voters have not yet registered. According to the Ministry of Interior, 160,094 citizens over 18 remain absent from the electoral roll, with the problem most pronounced among younger voters. Among those aged 18 to 25, more than half (52%) have yet to register, highlighting a major gap in electoral participation.
The Ministry of Interior, represented by Director-General Ellikos Elias, briefed political party representatives on preparations for next year’s elections. Under the current timeline, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on early dissolution on April 23, 2026, followed by the publication of the ministerial decree calling the elections on April 24. Candidacy submissions are set for May 6, and voting will take place on May 24, with the last day to register on the electoral roll being April 2, 2026.
Cypriot citizens aged 18 and over who have lived in Cyprus for the past six months are eligible to vote, and registration is also open to Turkish Cypriots holding Cypriot ID cards residing in government-controlled areas. Those turning 18 before the election date can register, and applications for voters under 25 can be submitted electronically. Voters must present either an electoral booklet or a Cypriot identity card at the polls.
Legislative changes lowering the voting age to 17, introducing automatic registration, and allowing driver’s licenses as voter ID will not take effect until July 2027, meaning they will apply first in the 2028 presidential elections.
Data show that the highest levels of unregistered voters are among those born after 1995 (ages 18-31), where nearly 40% have not registered. For ages 18-35, roughly one-third of eligible voters are unregistered. To address this, the Ministry will send letters to newly eligible voters and run two public awareness campaigns: first to encourage registration, and second to promote turnout. Special arrangements are also being made for Cypriots voting from abroad.
Due to the growing number of political parties, currently 25 and possibly rising to 28, the 2026 ballot may need to be printed on both sides to accommodate all candidates, with 24-28 columns. Officials emphasized that the design will maintain the secrecy of the vote.
Finally, recent parliamentary legislation has reallocated one parliamentary seat from Nicosia to Paphos based on updated population data from the permanent electoral roll, ensuring proportional representation ahead of the elections.
