Cyprus Parliament Approves Constitutional Amendment to Lower Voting Age

The Cyprus Parliament has approved a bill that amends the Constitution to lower the minimum age for voting from 18 to 17 years old. This change aims to encourage citizen participation in electoral processes and modernize electoral legislation. The proposed amendments will automatically register 92,129 Cypriot citizens aged 17 and over on the electoral roll if they enter into force today. The constitutional amendment is expected to take effect in 2027, but the government has clarified that it will not apply to the 2028 presidential elections.

Key Takeaways:

• The Cyprus Parliament has approved a bill to amend the Constitution, lowering the voting age from 18 to 17 years old.
• The proposed amendment aims to encourage citizen participation in electoral processes and modernize electoral legislation.
• The automatic registration of voters on the permanent electoral roll will benefit 92,129 Cypriot citizens aged 17 and over if the proposed amendments enter into force today.
• The constitutional amendment is expected to take effect in 2027, but the government has clarified that it will not apply to the 2028 presidential elections.
• Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has welcomed the outcome and emphasized the government's commitment to simplifying and modernizing the electoral process.
• The government aims to strengthen democracy and increase citizen participation in the electoral process.
• The proposed amendment is part of a package of laws aimed at modernizing electoral legislation.

Statistics:

• 92,129 Cypriot citizens aged 17 and over will be automatically registered on the electoral roll if the proposed amendments enter into force today.
• The constitutional amendment is expected to take effect in 2027.
• The government has clarified that the amendment will not apply to the 2028 presidential elections.

Sources:

• Cyprus Parliament (No date mentioned)

"Plenary of the Cyprus Parliament Approves Bill to Lower Voting Age."