A total of 569,182 citizens are eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections on Sunday 24 May 2026 to choose members of the House of Representatives.
Voters will select their representatives from 752 candidates, with most running under 19 party combinations alongside nine independent candidacies, all competing for the 56 seats in the new parliament.
Polling station information
A total of 1,217 polling stations will operate on Sunday, including 13 dedicated to electing the representative for the Maronite religious group. Voters can check their assigned polling station using the “Where do I vote” service on the Ministry of Interior website by entering their identity card number and date of birth.
Voting hours
Voting is direct and secret. Polls open at 7:00 am and pause for one hour at 12:00 pm. Voting resumes at 1:00 pm and continues normally until 6:00 pm. If necessary, the presiding officer may extend voting hours at a polling station until midnight at their absolute discretion, provided there are voters waiting outside the station to vote.
Voter identification
To enter a polling station and receive a ballot paper, a voter must:
- Be registered on the electoral roll of that specific polling station. Anyone registered elsewhere will be directed to the correct location by election officials.
- Present their voting booklet or identity card. No one can vote without a voting booklet or identity card, even if their name is on the electoral roll. If a voting booklet is lost or damaged, the voter can replace it by applying to their local District Officer up until the day before the election.
- Confirm they have not previously voted in the same election.
Enclaved citizens
Citizens living in the Turkish-occupied areas of Karpasia and Kyrenia can vote at polling stations operating in the government-controlled areas. They must present a civil identity card, a passport, or any other official document of the Republic carrying their photograph.
Enclaved citizens from the Kyrenia constituency will vote at Kykkos A’ Lyceum in Engomi (Polling Station T, Box No. 259). Those from the Famagusta constituency will vote at Acheritou Primary School (Polling Station A, Box No. 052).
Two-sided ballots introduced for first time
The Government Printing Office has printed 617,600 ballot papers on security paper. Due to the high number of party combinations participating in these elections, officials are introducing two-sided ballots for the first time. This solution was deemed the most functional way to limit the size of the ballot, making it manageable for voters in the booths and during the sorting and counting process.
Except for the Larnaca constituency ballot and the Maronite religious group representative ballot, all other ballots contain combinations and candidates on both sides. Officials clarified there is no official front or back side to prevent any party combinations from gaining an unfair advantage, and vote secrecy is maintained by folding the ballot.
Ballot paper colours by constituency
Each constituency has a different ballot paper colour to prevent confusion among voters and assist staff during the sorting and counting process:
- Nicosia: White
- Limassol: Yellow
- Famagusta: Blue
- Larnaca: Pink
- Paphos: Green
- Kyrenia: Orange
Voters are advised to check that the ballot paper given to them corresponds to their voting constituency. Everyone must check their ballot papers to ensure they are properly stamped with the official stamp of the Republic before entering the voting booth. Unstamped ballots will be deemed invalid and excluded from the count.
Voting method and regulations
Voters must use the blue or black pen provided. To vote for a party, the voter can place a specified mark—either an “X”, “+”, or “✓”—in the large square at the bottom of the chosen combination’s column, beneath the names of the candidates.
The ballots fold like a bellows so voters can open and close them easily. After receiving the ballot and after party and candidate representatives verify their identity against the electoral roll, the voter enters the booth to cast their vote directly, secretly, and without influence.
Under the current electoral system, voters cannot choose candidates from different party combinations. They may vote either for one combination—even if it has fewer candidates than the seats allocated to that constituency—or for a single independent candidate.
Preference crosses by district
Voters who choose a party combination can also mark preference crosses in the small squares next to individual candidates’ names. Each voter can mark one preference cross for every four parliamentary seats. If a remainder occurs after dividing the total number of seats by four, the number of preference crosses increases by one.
The maximum number of preference crosses per constituency is:
- Nicosia: 5
- Limassol: 3
- Famagusta: 3
- Larnaca: 2
- Paphos: 2
- Kyrenia: 1
Leaders exempt from preference crosses
Marking preference crosses is optional. Under the law, a party leader or head of a coalition combination does not require preference crosses, as they automatically receive all preference crosses cast for their combination. No square is printed next to their names.
However, some leaders choose not to use this legal provision. In those cases, a square is printed next to their name and they require preference crosses to be elected, just like other candidates.
Voters cannot mark more preference crosses than allowed for each constituency. If someone marks too many crosses, the preference crosses will be ignored completely. The ballot paper remains valid as a vote for the party combination, provided no other combination or independent candidate was voted for.
For the 2026 parliamentary elections, the only candidates who do not require a preference cross are:
- Annita Demetriou: President of the Democratic Rally, candidate in the Larnaca constituency
- Stefanos Stefanou: General Secretary of AKEL, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Nikolas Papadopoulos: President of the Democratic Party, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Christos Christou: President of the National Popular Front (ELAM), candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Odysseas Michaelides: Head of ALMA – Citizens for Cyprus, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Kyriakos Andreou: President of The Green Party of Cyprus, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Christos Clerides: President of Democratic Change, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
- Celestina De Petro: President of Far-Left Resistance Communism, candidate in the Nicosia constituency
All other candidates, including the following party leaders across all constituencies, require a preference cross:
- Stavros Papadouris: President of the Cyprus Green Party – Citizens’ Cooperation, candidate in Limassol
- Nikolaos Prodromou: President of Active Citizens – United Cyprus Hunters Movement, candidate in Famagusta
- Andromachi Sofocleous: Co-President of Volt Cyprus, candidate in Nicosia
- Panos Loizou Parras: Co-President of Volt Cyprus, candidate in Limassol
- Fidias Panayiotou: President of Direct Democracy Cyprus, candidate in Nicosia
- Sotiris Christou: President of Sikou Pano, candidate in Larnaca
- Andreas Themistocleous: President of the Democratic National Movement (DEK), candidate in Limassol
- Andreas Christofi: President of Agronomist Agricultural Labour Party, candidate in Limassol
- Marianna Athanasiou: President of the Patriotic Front “LAKEDAIMONIOI”, candidate in Limassol
- Apostolos Apostolou: Head of People’s Struggle for Freedom, candidate in Famagusta
Assistance for voters with disabilities
Voters with visual or physical impairments can vote independently if they wish by informing the presiding officer. Anyone unable to vote due to blindness or physical disability can ask the presiding officer, an assistant at the polling station, or a trusted person of their choice to help them cast their vote.
The presiding officer may explain the voting process to any voter while carefully avoiding actions or statements that could be interpreted as advice or instructions supporting a specific combination or candidate.
Spoiled ballots and ballot secrecy
Voters should take care not to damage their ballot paper. If a voter accidentally damages a ballot, they can return it to the presiding officer, who must provide a replacement. After voting, the voter folds the ballot paper, exits the booth, drops it into the ballot box, collects their identification, and leaves the station.
Proper measures are in place to ensure vote secrecy. Booths are positioned so voters can cast their ballots out of sight of election officials. Party representatives monitor the process but cannot interfere. Voters must only use the specified “X”, “+”, or “✓” marks. Making any other shape, letter, or number that could identify the voter is forbidden. Removing any essential part of the ballot or tearing it is also prohibited to protect voters from outside pressure or interference.