695 Centenarians Almost Removed from Cyprus Electoral Roll
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Loading... - Laoise Hogan
- 14 Mar 2025
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The Chief of the Cyprus Electoral Service, Menelaos Vasiliou, recently reported that there are 695 Cypriot citizens aged over 100 years listed on the country’s electoral registers. This information was shared during a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, where the topic of centenarians on the electoral roll was discussed.
The issue arose when a proposal was made to remove all citizens over the age of 100 from the electoral rolls, based on the assumption that many of them may have passed away. However, this suggestion faced objections from concerned individuals and their families, prompting the Electoral Service to provide precise figures regarding those affected.
Committee Chairman Aristos Damianou noted that since the last meeting, he had been informed of five specific cases of citizens over 100 years old. Additionally, MP Alexandra Attalidou mentioned a 105-year-old citizen during the discussions, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the proposal.
In response to the concerns raised, the Electoral Service is now working to develop a methodology that would allow for the removal of deceased individuals from the electoral registers without inadvertently disenfranchising living centenarians. This approach aims to balance the integrity of the electoral roll with the rights of older citizens.
Constitutional Amendment Discussions
The committee meeting also touched on a proposed constitutional amendment that would extend voting rights to 17-year-olds. However, the session was notably marked by the absence of representatives from the DIKO, EDEK, and ELAM parties. Damianou publicly questioned the absence of these MPs, emphasizing that their participation is crucial for respecting parliamentary procedures.
He urged political parties that have not yet declared their stance on the constitutional amendment to do so promptly, allowing the committee to proceed effectively with its work. The discussions reflect ongoing efforts to ensure that the electoral process in Cyprus remains inclusive and representative of all eligible voters, including the elderly and younger citizens.
