The Ministry of the Interior will be posting 20,000 letters over the next few days to new voters, who are or will be 18 years old in June 2009, when the European Elections are set to take place, according to Demetris Demetriou, a Ministry officer, in charge of elections.
Demetriou has told CNA in an interview that letters will also be sent to citizens of other EU member states, who had registered to vote in the municipal and community elections, asking them if they wish to vote for a Cypriot candidate in the European Parliament.
An innovation in this year's European Elections with the operation of polling stations abroad is still pending, Demetriou said, noting that, although political parties agree with the idea, the proposed legislation has not yet reached the House of Representatives but is still with the Attorney General.
He pointed out that, given that applications from Cypriots abroad must be received by April 2, time is running out and the proposed legislation must be passed so that the electoral commission can make the necessary arrangements.
The Ministry of the Interior is also concerned about the date set for the elections, since the elections on the specific Sunday would break up a long holiday weekend, during which many voters might be away.
Demetriou said a meeting would be held on January 23, presided over by Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis, to discuss the matter.
He added that holding the elections on a weekday and thus a school day was out of the question, since the polling stations are set up in school buildings. Making the specific weekday a public holiday would only facilitate civil servants and not private sector employees. Furthermore, Saturday was not a solution, since those wishing to go on holiday would most probably be leaving on Friday afternoon.
Referring to the 2004 European Elections, Demetriou said participation was 72.5%, the lowest to date, and that abstention would rise if a solution is not found for the holiday.
For the elections, a total of 1,200 polling stations will operate in Cyprus. An additional 30 polling stations will operate abroad, if the House passes the relevant legislation.
In 2004, about 570 Turkish Cypriots had expressed the wish to vote in the elections. Demetriou said that any Turkish Cypriot wishing to vote this year would have to register by April 2.
The number of candidates depends on the number of political party combinations, Demetriou added.
He also said that if the voting times to be observed are those provided for by the law, then the final results should be out by 19:00 local time. However, the results will not be announced until all polling stations close in all member states.
