Legislature in the occupied areas repeals horizontal voting

On September 29, 2026, the legislature in the occupied territories passed an amendment to the election and referendum law, effectively abolishing horizontal voting. The motion was approved during an extraordinary session of the assembly under the chairmanship of Ziya Ozturkler, securing 28 votes in favor—cast by members of the government and the Rebirth Party (YDP)—and 10 votes against the measure.

The new legislation prohibits voters from selecting candidates from different political parties, restricting ballots to a single party list. This decision was reached despite an initial referral by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The amendment is set to take immediate effect following its publication in the official gazette.

This move marks a significant shift in the electoral system, as the "mixed voting" method previously allowed voters more flexibility across party lines. The transition back to a stricter party-list format will govern all future electoral processes in the region.