One Week Until the Parliamentary and Local Elections in Northern Cyprus

Northern Cyprus is preparing for parliamentary and local elections that are scheduled for June 25th. As the last week of campaigning approaches, candidates are continuing their propaganda efforts by visiting settlements and civil society organizations to meet with voters. Candidates are also using television programs and social media platforms to broadcast their messages.

The by-elections will fill a seat that was left vacant by the resignation of the former leader of the People's Party, Kudret Ozersay, as well as fill a vacant muhtar seat in Yenicami, Lefkosa. There are six political party candidates and seven independent candidates running for the parliamentary seat, while four candidates are vying for the muhtar position.

One candidate, Tacan Reynar, whose candidacy for the parliamentary seat was rejected by the High Electoral Council (YSK), will still have his name on the ballot in accordance with the law, but if he wins, he will not be considered a valid winner, and the next person will be elected.

There are a total of 210,121 eligible voters in Northern Cyprus, who will be able to cast their ballots in 713 polling stations, each with three polling officers. According to the YSK chairman, Narin Şefik, there were 208,236 eligible voters in the last local elections held in December 2022, and there has been an increase of 1,885 voters since then.

Changes have been made to the ballot and the seal for the by-elections. The ballot papers will have party-affiliated candidates listed above independent candidates, and only one "YES" stamp can be marked in the ballot papers.

On June 25th, there will be the usage of "stamp seals" in polling stations for the first time in the country.

On the ballot paper, Tacan Reynar is listed first in accordance with the order determined in the draw held by the YSK, with the party’s candidates listed before the independent candidates.

On the Yenicami neighborhood muhtarship, four candidates; Mehmet Yumusak, Adnan Getirmez, Mehmet Camir, and Selim Ozdemir are running.

Voters can use the "Where will I vote?" link on the websites http://www.mahkemeler.net and http://ysk.mahkemeler.net to enter their ID card number and determine their specific polling station. Election campaigning will cease on June 24th, with election day taking place on June 25th.