Cyprus to set up 33 polling stations abroad for euro-elections

A total of 33 polling stations will be set up in 25 towns in different countries for the June European Parliament elections, in which Cypriots will be called to choose six deputies to represent their country.

Speaking at a press conference here today, Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Lazaros Savvides said that of the 33 polling stations, 20 will operate in Greece, 5 in the United Kingdom and the rest in various other countries.

Polling stations will be set up in Athens (five), Thessaloniki (three), Patra, Komotini, Larissa, Volos, Heraklion, Rethymno, Serres, Rhodes, Mytilene, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, London (three), Manchester, Birmingham, Berlin, Brussels, Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Doha and Dubai.

Savvides said that “there is a possibility for one more polling station to operate in Italy where a total of 52 applications were submitted from various towns of the country”.

Savvides urged voters who had declared by April 2, 2009, that they would vote abroad for the European elections on June 6 2009, in a town without any polling station, to communicate with the Elections Commission of the Ministry of Interior by April 30 in order to declare their new option, following the announcement of the 25 towns where polling stations will be set up.

He made it clear that “if these voters do not respond to our call by April 30, 2009, then they will remain registered in the electoral roll of Cyprus and either they will not vote or they will have to come to Cyprus to exercise their voting right”.

Savvides said that “by April 2, 10.072 applications have been submitted to vote in polling stations which will operate abroad”.

He also said that around 9,5 thousand persons are expected to vote abroad.

Cyprus is represented at the European Parliament by six deputies.