Preparations for Cyprus’ parliamentary elections have entered their final phase, with ballot papers due to be delivered on Tuesday, less than a week before voters head to the polls.

Chief returning officer Elikkos Elia said the authorities were in the final stretch of preparations, with only the last procedural steps remaining.

Training for presiding officers and their assistants who will staff polling stations is also nearing completion, he added.

Polls consistently show that at least seven parties contesting the May elections will gain seats in parliament. The threshold for entering parliament is 3.6 per cent of the votes cast.

A total of 1,217 polling stations will operate on election day. According to Elia, 1,204 polling stations will be used for the parliamentary elections, including 13 overseas voting centres. A further 13 polling stations will be designated for the election of the representative of the Maronite religious group in various cities. More specifically in Nicosia there will be 454 polling stations, Famagusta 59, Larnaca 204, Limassol 351, Paphos 136 and 13 overseas.

Staffing arrangements have already been finalised. Elia explained that polling stations serving up to 250 voters will be staffed by one presiding officer and two assistants. Centres serving between 251 and 450 voters will have one presiding officer and three assistants, while stations with 451 voters or more will have four assistants.

“We believe this will ensure the process runs smoothly, both during voting and the vote count, which will take place on-site at each polling station,” he said.

Polling stations in Cyprus will open at 7am and close at 6pm, with a one-hour break from noon until 1pm. Polling stations in Athens and Thessaloniki will follow the same schedule. In London, voting will take place from 8am to 4pm local time, with a break from 12pm to 12.30pm, while in Brussels polling stations will open from 8am to 5pm local time, with a one-hour break from noon.

Elia said the staggered timetables were designed to ensure all polling stations close at the same time.

More than 6,500 people, including police officers, will be employed for the election process.

The total cost of conducting the elections is estimated at approximately €5.6 million, broadly in line with comparable electoral exercises in the past.

A total of 568,587 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots.

Elia said figures on the number of first-time voters would be announced separately.

He also reminded the public that from July 1, 2027, voter registration will become automatic, electoral booklets will be abolished, and registration will begin automatically from the age of 17.

Meanwhile, the pre-election campaign period officially ends on Friday night, after which strict restrictions under electoral law come into force.

In a statement, the chief returning officer said that from midnight Friday into Saturday until the end of voting on Sunday, the transmission, advertisement or publication of any news or announcements related directly or indirectly to the elections will be prohibited, whether paid or unpaid.

The only exception will be announcements or news issued by the chief returning officer or under his authority.

The restriction also applies to advertisements displayed on social media platforms, applications and the internet more broadly.

Asked about campaign billboards already displayed in public spaces, Elia was unequivocal.

“They must come down. By Saturday, the roads must be clear.”

Public gatherings, speeches and public discussions will also be prohibited on Saturday and Sunday, along with the display of campaign billboards for any electoral grouping or candidate.

The publication of opinion polls and exit polls during that period is likewise banned.

Newspapers published on the eve of the election are exempt, but may only carry reports from campaign events that took place the previous day.

Violations of these provisions constitute criminal offences punishable, upon conviction, by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to €5,000, or both.

Authorities clarified that content uploaded to social media or online accounts belonging to parties, candidates or campaign teams before the election eve may remain online.

However, advertisements, paid or unpaid, or links directing users to party or candidate accounts that could be interpreted as campaign promotion must be removed.

Posting new campaign-related content during the restricted period is also prohibited.

Political party and candidate websites may remain accessible on election eve and election day, as access to those sites depends on users choosing to visit them.

As for exit polls conducted outside polling stations on election day, Elia said electoral law does not prohibit their conduct, provided their findings are published only after the chief returning officer formally announces that voting has concluded and all polling stations have closed.

He warned polling companies and broadcasters that publishing exit poll results before polls close could result in criminal prosecution.

Asked whether any complaints had been submitted so far regarding the process or possible breaches of electoral law, Elia said only minor and manageable issues had arisen.

He referred specifically to complaints over an informational advertisement concerning preference voting for party leaders, which was subsequently corrected.

He urged voters to consult the election service website’s “How do I vote?” section for detailed guidance on what constitutes a valid ballot.

He also called on voters to confirm their assigned polling station through the “Where do I vote?” service by entering their identity card number and date of birth.