Preparations and regulations for the 2026 parliamentary elections in Cyprus

The General Electoral Commissioner of Cyprus has finalized arrangements for the parliamentary elections scheduled for May 24, 2026. On May 23 and 24, activities including the posting of banners, posters, and the distribution of leaflets are strictly prohibited, with offenders facing up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 5,000 euros. Polling stations in Cyprus and Greece will operate from 07:00 to 18:00, with a lunch break between 12:00 and 13:00. Voting hours in the United Kingdom are set for 08:00 to 16:00, while the station in Belgium will operate from 08:00 to 17:00. Authorities have emphasized that strict measures are in place to ensure ballot secrecy for all citizens, including prisoners and enclaved persons. Voters are required to use private booths and verify that their ballot paper bears the official state seal before casting their vote. While the Commissioner maintains that ballot secrecy is absolute, recent polls indicate a competitive race with DISY leading AKEL and ELAM in third place. Logistic operations, including the distribution of election materials, are currently underway across all electoral districts, including Paphos.