Voter turnout in the 2026 parliamentary elections appears to be increased, as by 3pm. A percentage of 49.8% of registered voters had cast their ballots, marking an increase of 4.7 percentage points compared to the same time during the 2021 parliamentary elections, when turnout stood at 45.1%.
A total of 285,502 people had voted by 3pm.
According to the Chief Returning Officer, Elikkos Elia, the electoral process had been proceeding smoothly up to that point, without any problems. “We are particularly satisfied with the way voting is being conducted in all districts,” he said.
At the district level, the largest increase compared to the 2021 parliamentary elections was recorded in Nicosia, where turnout reached 52.4% compared to 43.4% in the previous parliamentary election. During the 2023 presidential elections, turnout in Nicosia at the same time stood at 58.4%, while it is slightly higher than the 49.7% recorded in the 2024 European elections.
In Limassol, by midday 44.9% of voters had cast their ballots, compared to 44.7% in 2021, a figure that remains lower than the 52.9% recorded in the 2023 presidential elections and the 49.6% in the 2024 elections.
In the Famagusta District, turnout reached 53.9%, up from 51.6% in the 2021 parliamentary elections and close to the 55.4% recorded in the 2023 presidential elections, though still below the 57.8% recorded in the 2024 elections.
In Larnaca, turnout was recorded at 49.4%, compared to 45.4% in 2021, below the 54.9% of the 2023 presidential elections, but still close to the 51.1% recorded in 2024.
In Paphos, by contrast, turnout stood at 51.2% compared to 49.5%, though it still lagged behind both the 55.9% recorded in the 2023 presidential elections and the 58.1% recorded in the 2024 elections.
Abroad, turnout stood at 46.2%, also showing an increase compared to 40.3% in 2021 and higher than the corresponding percentages in 2023 (43.7%) and 2024 (39%).
Nationwide, the 49.8% turnout recorded by 3:00 p.m. remains lower than the 55.6% recorded in the 2023 presidential elections, while exceeding the 44.3% recorded in the 2024 elections.
The Chief Returning Officer reminded voters that polling continues until 6:00 p.m. and urged them to arrive at polling stations early rather than waiting until the last minute, in order to avoid overcrowding.
