Nicosia: Preparations for the parliamentary elections of May 24th have entered the final stage, with voting set to take place in less than a week. Ballots are expected to be delivered on Tuesday. Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Chief Returning Officer Elikkos Elia outlined the final preparations and explained what the law provides regarding the end of the campaign period.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Chief Returning Officer Elikkos Elia stated, "We are in the final stretch. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the ballots will be delivered by the Government Printing Office. A delivery schedule has already been issued." He also noted that training for presiding officers and their assistants, who will staff the polling stations, is being completed.
Elia expressed confidence in the preparedness for next Sunday's elections, which aim to elect the 56 members of the House of Representatives. A total of 1,217 polling stations will operate on Sunday, including 1,204 within the country and 13 abroad. Additionally, 13 polling stations will cater to the election of the representative of the Maronite religious group.
The distribution of polling stations includes 454 in Nicosia, 59 in Famagusta, 204 in Larnaca, 351 in Limassol, 136 in Paphos, and the 13 abroad. Staffing of polling stations has been finalized, with each station having one presiding officer and between two and four assistants, depending on the number of voters.
Polling stations in Cyprus will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a midday break, while stations in Athens, Thessaloniki, London, and Brussels will follow similar schedules, adjusted for local time.
Elia mentioned that more than 6,500 people, including police officers, will be involved in the election process, which is estimated to cost around £5.6 million. The registered voter count stands at 568,587.
The campaign period officially concludes Friday night. Election law prohibits the dissemination of election-related news or announcements from midnight Friday until Sunday, except those authorized by the General Returning Officer. This restriction extends to social media, apps, and online platforms.
Elia emphasized that campaign billboards must be removed by Saturday, ensuring clear roads. Furthermore, public gatherings, speeches, and publication of opinion polls are banned over the weekend, with exceptions for newspapers reporting on prior campaign events.