There is a separate post regarding EU citizens registering for their European vote in Cyprus.
British Citizens have lost their right to a vote. However, if third country nationals hold a Cypriot passport they are able to register to vote.
1. General
Every EU national resident in Cyprus is entitled to vote in local elections and to stand for election to local government under the same conditions as Cypriot citizens.
Under EU law, if an EU Member State requires its nationals to have been habitually resident in the country for a certain period of time in order to register on the electoral roll, the same will apply to nationals of other Member States, although the period in which they were resident in other EU Member States will be taken into account. Cyprus requires citizens to have been habitually resident in the Republic for a period of at least 6 months.
2. Right to vote
Citizens of EU Member States can exercise their right to vote in Cyprus, provided they are at least 18 years of age and are registered on the special electoral roll.
In order to register on the special electoral roll, voters must present a Cypriot identity card or, for European voters, a valid passport or other identity card issued by the Member State of which they are a national and/or confirmation of registration as an EU citizen. To register for European elections [see separate post] voters must also submit a solemn declaration stating their nationality, that they have forfeited their right to vote in their country of origin, the electoral roll on which they were last registered in their country of origin (if applicable), the address in Cyprus at which they are habitually resident, the date from which they have resided in Cyprus or another Member State and the fact that they will exercise their right to vote only in Cyprus.
Applications for registration are submitted to the local District Administration or to a Citizen Service Centre.
3. Right to stand for election
Everyone who has the right to vote and is at least 21 years of age, also has the right to stand for election to local government either as a party list candidate for a party or coalition of parties/independents or as an independent candidate, provided that they have not forfeited the right to stand for election in their country of origin and are not standing for election in any other EU Member State. Community voters cannot stand for election as a mayor or commune president and, if elected as a councillor, cannot seek promotion to the office of deputy mayor or deputy commune president.
Candidates standing in local government elections must register with the Chief Returning Officer at the time and place stipulated in the notice published by the Chief Returning Officer in the Government Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus and displayed in a prominent position in the place where candidatures are submitted.
The following must be submitted in order to register as a candidate:
• a nomination signed by two voters (one proposer and one seconder);
• a statement by the candidate that they have the qualifications for election laid down by law;
• a fee of €100;
• a solemn declaration stating the candidate's nationality, the address at which they are habitually resident in Cyprus, their last address in their country of origin, the last electoral roll on which they were registered in their country of origin (if applicable), that the candidate has forfeited the right to stand for election in their country of origin, that none of the incompatibilities laid down by law applies to them and the date on which they acquired the nationality of a Member State;
• a valid passport or identity card issued by the Member State of which the candidate is a national and/or confirmation of their registration as an EU citizen (MEU/residency form) and/or a Cypriot identity card.
4. Voting method
Voters must exercise their right to vote in person at the polling station to which they have been assigned by presenting their poll card/book plus another form of identity which includes a photograph, ie passport or EU identity card. Please take with you the form of identity used when you registered for a vote.
5. Form to apply for a vote
Application for a vote Αίτηση για εγγραφή στον ειδικό εκλογικό κατάλογο για Κοινοτικούς- Δημοτικές - Κοινοτικές Εκλογές.pdf (moi.gov.cy)
6. Submission of application for a vote
Complete the form above. A copy of the form is acceptable. The form will need to be signed and stamped by the Mukhtar or Mayor of the town or village where you live [and where you will vote].
Take completed form together with:
- proof [original and one copy] of EU citizenship [ID with photograph or passport], and
- proof [original and one copy] of at least 6 months residency in Cyprus [Yellow slip, copy of biometric residency, etc],
to the Citizens Advice Bureau or the District Office. The cut off date for registering to vote in the local elections 2024 will be 31 March.
You will be given a receipt which you should retain. Your voting book will be sent to the local Municipality/Council office and you will be required to collect this yourself. You are unlikely to be advised that your book has arrived!
