in-cyprus 22 January 2025
The cabinet Wednesday approved a package of 13 bills changing Cyprus’s electoral system, including automatic voter registration and lowering the voting age to 17.
The reforms will introduce automatic registration to the permanent electoral roll for Cypriot citizens aged 17 and above who reside in government-controlled areas and hold valid identification cards.
Under the new legislation, driving licences will be accepted as valid identification at polling stations, while the traditional electoral booklet will be phased out for new registrations, though existing booklets will remain valid.
The changes include measures to prevent electoral fraud in local government elections by implementing a one-year freeze on address changes before such polls, except for new registrations.
District officers will notify voters in writing of their registered address, with voters required to report any changes within 30 days. The quarterly electoral roll review system will continue, with supplementary lists posted for public inspection for ten days.
The legislation specifies that automatic registration applies only to Cypriot citizens for the permanent electoral roll, not to European Union citizens voting in European Parliament or local government elections.
The bills, which underwent public consultation from September 6 to October 7, 2024, will now proceed to parliament for approval, with implementation targeted ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
