The Ministry of Interior has set out the rules governing Cyprus’s election blackout period, which runs from midnight on Friday, May 22 until the close of polling on Sunday, May 24.
What is banned from midnight Friday
The following activities are prohibited from midnight Friday through to the end of polling on Sunday:
- Broadcasting, advertising or publishing any election-related news or announcements, whether paid or unpaid. This includes advertisements on social media, apps and the internet generally.
- Public gatherings, rallies and public debates.
- Posting campaign billboards or signage for any party or candidate.
- Publishing the results of any opinion poll or exit poll.
Newspapers are an exception: those published on election eve may carry news from campaign events held the previous day.
Breaches of these provisions are criminal offences. Those convicted face up to one year in prison, a fine of up to €5,000, or both.
Exit poll rules
Exit polls conducted outside polling stations are not prohibited by electoral law, but results may only be published or broadcast after the Returning Officer announces that voting has ended and all polling stations have closed.
Broadcasting exit poll results before polls close could expose the directors of the companies or television stations involved to criminal prosecution for unlawfully influencing voters. Attempting to influence, coerce or mislead voters — directly or indirectly — constitutes a serious electoral offence carrying a sentence of several months in prison and/or a fine.
Social media rules
Content posted on social media or party and candidate accounts before the blackout period begins may remain in place. However, paid or unpaid advertisements and any links that could be construed as campaign promotion must be removed.
No new content may be posted during the blackout period.
Party and candidate websites may remain live throughout, as visiting them is at the user’s own initiative.
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