The Central Election Commission is putting the final touches to preparations for Sunday’s presidential elections, contested by nine candidates, three of whom are running neck to neck according to opinion polls.
Results, according to the Commission, are expected by 20.30 on Sunday on the websites www.proedrikes.gov.cy, www.ekloges.gov.cy, www.elections.gov.cy and www.ekloges.pio.gov.cy .
The three main candidates – Tassos Papadopoulos, Demetris Christophias and Ioannis Kasoulides – are intensifying their campaigns in the next few days with special events, including concerts, increased advertising, door to door visits, delivery of printed material, radio, TV and newspaper interviews. Electioneering ends at midnight on Friday.
All three believe they will go through to the run-off on February 24. Recent opinion polls give a slight edge to Papadopoulos, but the outcome of the vote, with many voters still undecided or not replying to poll questions, still in the balance. A record number of student voters are also flying in on the eve of the elections.
The second national televised debate with the participation of all three candidates is due to go on air on Thursday night, with the
A total of 550,000 ballot papers have been printed and are on their way to the various districts to be distributed to the polling stations.
There will be 1,159 polling stations of which 438 in Nicosia District, 340 in Limassol District, 55 in the free areas of Famagusta District, 190 in Larnaca District and 134 in Paphos District.
Two special polling stations will operate for the enclaved Greek Cypriots who will be transported from the Turkish-occupied to the free areas to vote. Prisoners will also vote for the first time.
In all, 515,994 voters have been registered to cast their ballots, including 390 Turkish Cypriots. Women outnumber men, accounting for 261,410 of the total 515,994 voters, up from the 476.352 registered voters in the 2003 elections.
The largest age group of voters is that of 20 to 29 years old, totalling 96,543 voters, with 17,478 registered voters aged 18 and 19 casting their votes for the first time. The second largest age group are the 40 to 49ers totalling 95.875 voters.
Former Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous and Euro MP Marios Matsakis have also submitted their bids for the presidential elections, whuile the remaining independent candidates include Andreas Efstratiou, Costas Kyriakou (Outopos), Anastasis Michael and Christodoulos Neofytou.
The elections will cost around EUR 5.83 mln for the two rounds. A total of 10,000 people will work during all phases of the elections.
Polling stations will open at 0700 local time (0500 GMT) and will stay open until 1700 (1500 GMT) with an hour’s break at midday.
The Chief Returning Officer has called on all voters to make sure they have not misplaced their voting books. Replacements can be issued until February 16.
Additional pages may also be added to existing books at the District Offices or at the polling stations on the day.
