A series of sweeping changes to the electoral system were enacted by the House on Thursday, including lowering voting age to 17 and the scrapping of voting booklets.

MPs hailed the changes as one of the major electoral reforms in the history of the Republic of Cyprus.

The legislative package – featuring government bills as well as legislative proposals by MPs – passed by unanimous vote.

It lowers voting age to 17 from 18 currently, provides for automatic registration on the permanent electoral roll, and does away with the requirement for a voting booklet for new voters; going forward, an ID or a driver’s licence can be displayed at polling stations.

Other changes include scrubbing from the electoral roll persons aged over 100 who hold no valid ID or are not on a state pension.

The new framework goes into force on July 1, 2027 – so that its first practical application will concern the presidential elections of 2028.

The changes impact all elections – presidential, parliamentary, European Parliament, local government, as well as plebiscites.

All Cypriot citizens registered on the permanent electoral roll may participate in all national elections.

Persons residing legally here who are not Cypriot citizens are registered onto different electoral rolls.

Last week parliament had amended the constitution to allow for a change in the minimum voting age.