Turkish Cypriots head to the polls on Sunday to vote for a new president

Turkish Cypriots head to the polls on Sunday October 19 to vote for a new president as vote counting will be done electronically for the first time in the history of northern Cyprus.

218,313 voters will head to 777 polling stations from 8am to 6pm on Sunday for the election, according to the “supreme electoral council chairman.”

Results are expected within one and a half to two hours after polling stations close.

Eight candidates, of whom six are independents will be on the ballot: Osman Zorba (Cyprus Socialist Party), Tufan Erhürman (Republican Turkish Party), Arif Salih Kirdağ (Independent), Ahmet Boran (Independent), Mehmet Hasgiuler (Independent), Ibrahim Yazici (Independent), Hüseyin Gürlek (Independent) and Ersin Tatar (Independent).

Election in the first round requires a majority of 50% of “valid votes” plus one. If none of the candidates achieves this, a second round of “elections” will take place the following Sunday, 26 October.

Historical turnout data

In previous “presidential elections,” voter turnout and winners were:

1985: 94,277 “voters” – 85.7% turnout (Winner: Rauf Denktaş)

1990: 101,172 “voters” – 93.48% turnout (Winner: Rauf Denktaş)

1995: First round: 113,398 “voters” – 85.13% turnout; Second round: 113,440 “voters” – 80.12% turnout (Winner: Rauf Denktaş)

2000: First round: 126,675 “voters” – 81.02% turnout. No second round as candidate Derviş Eroğlu withdrew his candidacy, resulting in Rauf Denktaş being declared winner again.

2005: 147,823 “voters” – 69.58% turnout (Winner: Mehmet Ali Talat)

2010: 164,072 “voters” – 76.3% turnout (Winner: Derviş Eroğlu)

2015: First round: 176,916 “voters” – 62.35% turnout; Second round: 176,980 “voters” – 64.12% turnout (Winner: Mustafa Akıncı)

2020: First round: 198,957 “voters” – 58.29% turnout; Second round: 199,029 “voters” – 67.29% turnout (Winner: Ersin Tatar)