Nicosia, Cyprus. Preparations for Cyprus’ parliamentary elections have entered their final phase, with ballot papers due to be delivered on Tuesday, less than a week before voters head to the polls.
Final procedural steps and staff training
Chief returning officer Elikkos Elia said the authorities were in the final stretch of preparations, with only the last procedural steps remaining. Training for presiding officers and their assistants who will staff polling stations is also nearing completion, he added.
Parties expected to enter parliament
Polls consistently show that at least seven parties contesting the May elections will gain seats in parliament. The threshold for entering parliament is 3.6 per cent of the votes cast.
Polling stations and locations
A total of 1,217 polling stations will operate on election day. According to Elia, 1,204 polling stations will be used for the parliamentary elections, including 13 overseas voting centres. A further 13 polling stations will be designated for the election of the representative of the Maronite religious group in various cities.
Elia said there will be 454 polling stations in Nicosia, 59 in Famagusta, 204 in Larnaca, 351 in Limassol, 136 in Paphos and 13 overseas.
Staffing arrangements and vote count
Staffing arrangements have already been finalised. Elia said polling stations serving up to 250 voters will be staffed by one presiding officer and two assistants. Centres serving between 251 and 450 voters will have one presiding officer and three assistants, while stations with 451 voters or more will have four assistants.
He said the vote count will take place on-site at each polling station.
Voting hours in Cyprus and abroad
Polling stations in Cyprus will open at 7am and close at 6pm, with a one-hour break from noon until 1pm. Polling stations in Athens and Thessaloniki will follow the same schedule.
In London, voting will take place from 8am to 4pm local time, with a break from 12pm to 12.30pm. In Brussels, polling stations will open from 8am to 5pm local time, with a one-hour break from noon.
Elia said the staggered timetables were designed to ensure all polling stations close at the same time.
Personnel for the election process
More than 6,500 people, including police officers, will be employed for the election process.
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