Ballot papers have already been posted online, ahead of the European elections and the local authorities in Cyprus, so that voters can familiarise themselves with them, while officers serving at polling stations will provide every help that voters may need, Chief Returning Officer, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Dr Elikkos Elia, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Saturday, ahead of the June 9 election process.
Asked how the procedures are progressing three weeks before the elections, Elia said that “we are preparing for the elections and we are currently focusing our work on the polling stations. On Friday we launched the “Where and What I vote” service and I invite voters to visit it in order to see at which polling station they will vote at and to be informed about the ballot papers and the number of crosses they can put on each ballot paper”. He noted that most of the ballot papers have been printed and the Printing Office of the Republic of Cyprus is working hard to get everything
ready.
Asked about concerns by citizens due to the large number of ballot papers they will receive, Elia said that an effort will be made to provide proper information to citizens, adding that already the ballot papers for the European Parliament and municipal elections have been posted on the website of the Election Service. He urged voters to take a look at the ballot papers so that they become familiar with them.
He pointed out that it is very important for every voter to see these ballot papers in advance, reiterating that the election day “is a day for democracy, there is a great deal at stake and we must be prepared to take a few minutes to vote in this crucial elections.” Elia also noted that highly trained officers will be at the polling stations and assistance will be given to enable every voter to understand exactly how to vote.
He added that the process is in its final stage in order to hold the elections on June 9, noting that “we will try to have the results as early as possible. We might be a
ble to give some results on Monday morning after the elections and we will also issue a programme for the declaration of candidates in various districts,” he said.
Asked whether the declaration of new Cypriot MEPs would be made on Sunday night, Elia said this would be done on Monday, but the results would be known by Sunday night. He indicated that the declarations of local authority officials will be made by the Returning Officers in each district, noting that a schedule is being drawn up in relation to the declarations and some declarations will be carried out on Monday and some on Tuesday after the elections.
Source: Cyprus News Agency