Cyprus Approves Voting Rights for 17-Year-Olds

On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers approved amendments to electoral legislation, including granting voting rights to citizens aged 17.

In his opening remarks, the President hailed the occasion as a "historic day" for Cyprus, emphasizing that the forthcoming approval of this law would allow 17-year-olds to vote for the first time.

In addition to lowering the voting age, the approved amendments include automatic voter registration, the elimination of traditional voter booklets for new voters, and legislation allowing voter identification through a national ID card or driver’s license.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou stated that the package of 13 reforms is designed to simplify and modernize the electoral process. These measures align with the President’s commitment to prioritizing effective governance, as announced in January last year.

The streamlined procedures aim to boost voter participation, particularly among younger citizens.

The proposed legislative changes will now be submitted to Parliament for debate. The reforms are expected to be in place for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026.