The government is advancing two significant changes to the electoral system, with the Ministry of the Interior’s Electoral Service preparing relevant bills for submission to the House of Representatives in September, aiming for enactment by November.
The proposed changes would automatically expand the electorate by several thousand individuals, potentially increasing voter abstention rates in future elections as many newly registered voters may not exercise their right to vote.
Under current law, Greek Cypriots must apply to be added to the electoral roll upon turning 18. Those over 25 must prove six months’ residence in Cyprus or undergo an interview with the district officer.
The new legislation would remove the application requirement for individuals over 25 and the need to prove residence. Similar to Turkish Cypriots, individuals would only need a valid Republic of Cyprus document and an address in the government-controlled areas to be registered.
This change is expected to increase the electorate by approximately 165,000 individuals.
The second major change proposes lowering the voting age from 18 to 17, aiming to boost youth participation in elections. This aligns with practices in Greece, while some EU countries like Germany, Belgium, and Malta have set the voting age at 16.
A bill for automatic voter registration was previously submitted by House Speaker Annita Demetriou and EDEK MP Andreas Apostolou.
