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96.6% of voters cast their ballots
• 13,949 delegates elected to the
Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power • 7.7 % of
voting districts to go to a second round of voting
on Sunday, April 24 • 52.48% of candidates reelected
THE
96.66% attendance rate in the elections for
delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of People’s
Power in Cuba demonstrated the people’s active
participation in these elections, which are held
every two and a half years, stated Roberto Díaz
Sotolongo, president of the National Electoral
Commission.
A
total of 8,178,708 citizens aged 16 and over
exercised their right to vote at the nation’s 37,280
polling stations, which represents an increase of
180,647 people over those registered for the
previous elections of 2002.
During this first round of voting, 13,949 municipal
delegates were elected, of which 26% are women and
19% are young, results that show a greater female
and youthful presence in local government
structures.
Next
Sunday (April 24), a second round of voting will
take place in 1,163 voting districts (7.7% of the
total), where there was a tie or where no candidate
attained more than 50% of votes cast.
Of
those delegates elected during the first round,
52.48% of them are currently serving in that office,
which indicates the people’s support for a large
number of compañeros who are carrying out
that commendable work.
The
fact that more than 90% of voters cast their votes
in favor of nominated candidates was qualified as an
expression of
their higher quality. A minimal number of voters
left their ballots blank – 2.64% – because the
nominees were not their preference, and spoiled
ballots – those on which more than one candidate was
indicated – made up 2.46%. Both of those percentages
are lower than the ones registered in the 2002
elections, Díaz Sotolongo noted.
More
than 600,000 Cubans voluntarily participated in the
preparation and organization of these elections, not
counting the schoolchildren who stood guard over the
ballot boxes, which shows that it is a process in
which the people play a fundamental role.
After the second round of voting on April 24 in the
1,163 remaining constituencies, the Municipal
Assemblies of People’s Power will be constituted.
According to electoral law, within 21 days after
elections, on the date determined by the Council of
State, delegates will take office and the Municipal
Assemblies will be constituted. The delegates will
elect their president and vice presidents. For that
step, the Nomination Commissions will carry out a
broad consultation with all elected delegates and
present their proposals to each Municipal Assembly (Raisa
Pages).
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