in-cyprus 23 May 2025 - by Theodora Nicolaou
The parliament unanimously approved a constitutional amendment on Wednesday to lower the voting age from 18 to 17, with the change set to take effect for the 2028 presidential elections.
The House of Representatives voted 41-0 to approve the amendment, which will come into force on 1 July 2027, allowing a transitional period for any necessary legislative adjustments.
“The constitutional amendment providing voting rights at 17 will be implemented comprehensively for the first time for the 2028 presidential elections,” said Aristos Damianou, chairman of the House Internal Affairs Committee and AKEL party MP.
The parliament is scheduled to vote on automatic voter registration on Thursday, Damianou added.
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou welcomed the decision but noted that the government had intended for the change to take effect from the 2026 parliamentary elections rather than the 2028 presidential vote.
“This amendment was a commitment by the President of the Republic, and the government’s intention was for it to come into force from the 2026 parliamentary elections, not the next presidential elections in 2028, as parliament ultimately voted,” Ioannou said in a written statement.
The minister pledged to continue efforts to simplify and modernise the electoral process, stating: “We trust our young people and want them to have an active role and voice in state decisions.”
