Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Lazaros Savvides has said that European Parliament elections will take place in Cyprus on June 6th, between 06.00 and 20.00, local time. Results will be announced the next day.
Cyprus will vote for six representatives at the European Parliament.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Savvides said the Ministry has sent personal letters to 13.000 young Cypriots, born between 1st of January 1989 and 6th of June 1991, to register in the electoral roll in order to be able to vote for the EP elections. He noted that the deadline for that registration ends April 2nd, 2009.
As regards Cypriots who live abroad and would like to vote for Cypriot MEPs, Savvides said they would have to register themselves in a special electoral roll, by completing a form available at Cyprus’ diplomatic missions abroad, or by visiting [email protected]. The deadline for this is the 2nd of April.
Savvides said that another 3.400 letters have been sent to non Cypriot EU citizens who live in Cyprus and would like to vote for Cypriot MEPs, giving them directions as to how to register.
Around 2.000 non Cypriot EU citizens voted in the EP elections of 2004, the first ones to have taken place in Cyprus, he said.
Regarding the Turkish Cypriots, he said that the ones who are already registered do not need to take any further action. At crossing points between the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus and the southern government controlled areas, information leaflets are being distributed to Turkish Cypriots on the issue, he noted.
Savvides said that 402 Turkish Cypriots who live in the government controlled areas, and are included in the permanent electoral roll, as well as additional 491 Turkish Cypriots, who are included in the electoral roll used for the EP elections of 2004, and the majority of Turkish Cypriots who live in the Turkish occupied areas, have the right to vote.
The number of Turkish Cypriots who have reached their 18th birthday and have obtained a new type ID by the Republic of Cyprus exceeds 80.000.
Turkish Cypriots, as well as Greek Cypriots can vote either by presenting the Republic of Cyprus ID or their electoral booklet, he concluded.
