Deadline for voters abroad to register extended

The deadline to declare an interest to vote at polling stations abroad has been extended to April 23, the interior ministry said on Monday as it urged registered voters wishing to do so to submit the relevant declaration in time.

It said that to operate polling stations abroad, special electoral lists will be drawn up to which the data of registered voters will be transferred. Those eligible must submit a declaration of interest so that their names can be included.

The elections for a new House of Representatives will be held on May 30. Those wishing to register on the special electoral list so as to vote abroad must be already registered voters or have registered by April 2, the ministry added.

Polling stations can operate in towns abroad where the number of interest voters exceeds 30 for each electoral area. Based on the experience of previous elections, the ministry anticipates that polling stations will operate in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, London and Manchester.

Registered voters wishing to exercise their right to vote abroad are urged to complete and submit the relevant form in time. The forms can be obtained from the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Cyprus in Greece and the UK, from district offices and citizens service centres, from the interior ministry and online from www.moi.gov.cy.

These applications can be submitted to embassies and consulates abroad, district offices and citizen services centres, the interior ministry and on line on aps.elections.moi.gov.cy.