Description of Electoral System:

(courtesy of IFES election guide)

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) 80 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. 56 seats are assigned to the Greek Cypriots and 24 to Turkish Cypriots.

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

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Elections in Cyprus

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The election of the President is direct, by universal suffrage and secret ballot. Every citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote. The president is elected for a five year term by the people. The election of a new President takes place before the expiration of the five-year period of office of the outgoing President so as to enable the newly-elected President to be invested on the date that period expires.

Candidates for election must be citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and over 35 years of age. If there is only one candidate for election, he is declared elected.

A candidate to be elected needs more than 50% of the votes validly cast. If none of the candidates attains the required majority the election is repeated on the corresponding day of the following week between the two candidates who received the greater number of votes. The candidate who receives the greatest number of votes at these repeated elections is deemed elected.

If there is a vacancy in the office of President, the vacancy is filled by a by-election taking place within a period not exceeding 45 days of the occurrence of such a vacancy.

In the event of a temporary absence or incapacity of the President to perform his duties, the President of the House of Representatives acts for him.