Cypriots are voting today in parliamentary elections marked by notably higher turnout than the last legislative cycle, with early figures suggesting a renewed public appetite for civic engagement. Nationwide turnout reached 32.3% by midday, significantly above the 26% recorded at the same point in the 2021 parliamentary elections, according to chief returning officer Elikkos Elia.
Nicosia led all districts with 36.1%, followed by Famagusta at 33.7% and Larnaca at 33.2%. Paphos recorded 32.2%, while Limassol lagged behind at 26.5%. Overseas voting stood at 19.1%. The increase was most pronounced in Nicosia, where turnout in 2021 had stood at just 23.4%, while Limassol recorded only a marginal rise from its 25.1% baseline five years ago.
The picture had already been trending upward earlier in the day. By 10am, turnout across Cyprus stood at 12.8%, up 2.5 percentage points compared with the same time during the 2021 parliamentary elections. The momentum held through the morning hours and into the afternoon, with polls set to close at 6pm.
Voting is taking place across 1,212 polling stations in Cyprus as well as in Athens and Thessaloniki, with polls briefly closing at noon before reopening at 1pm. More than 2,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order across the island, while the Digital Citizen app used for voter identification has functioned without major disruptions, with isolated complaints reported over unannounced changes to polling stations affecting elderly voters in Droseia, Larnaca.
Political leaders cast their ballots throughout the morning and used the occasion to call on citizens to vote with the next five years in mind. President Nikos Christodoulides said he voted according to his social-liberal convictions, while House President Annita Demetriou expressed optimism about political stability. Party leaders including Stefanos Stefanou, Nikolas Papadopoulos, Andromachi Sofocleous, Marios Karogian, Christos Christou, Nikos Anastassiou and Christos Clerides all stressed the need for consensus and responsible participation, pointing to the significance of the incoming House for young people and the Cyprus problem.
The 2021 elections had recorded a final turnout of 65.72%, a figure that had itself marked a slight dip in participation. Whether today's early momentum translates into a higher final figure will become clear when polls close this evening.
