More than 100,000 Cubans debate the electoral system

BY IVAN TERRERO—Granma International staff writer—

• AS is stipulated by Cuban election law, every two-and-a-half years, elections are held for the municipal assemblies, and every five years delegates are elected to provincial assemblies and parliamentary deputies to the National Assembly.

In the last few weeks, more than 100,000 Cubans have participated in neighborhood meetings called barrio-debates to discuss the country’s electoral system, leading up to election day on April 17, when voters will choose their delegates to local government – the Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power.

The high level of citizens’ participation in these neighborhood meetings, which are held in every municipality in the country, constitutes a true demonstration of popular support for the social project established by the nation.

During these meetings, topics include the characteristics of the Cuban electoral process, especially its transparency and how candidates are nominated.

The process of nominating candidates currently stands at 98%, given that more than 41,063 of the 41,600 neighborhood meetings have gone ahead. To date, more than 32,300 candidates have been nominated.

Of those proposed, 28.37% are women, and 23.01% are young people, higher figures than in previous years.

The primary voters’ registries were posted in public places until March 17 so that citizens were able to verify the information as a preliminary step in the election process.

Since February 15, all Cubans with voting rights have had the possibility of checking that information so as to be able to correct errors or omissions and ensure that their names appear. The final registers will be posted on April 6.

More than 8,174,000 Cubans are now registered to vote, and it is estimated that that figure could increase, because on voting day itself, any citizen with voting rights may be included. Of that total, some 378,000 young people will be casting their ballots for the first time.

Throughout the country, more than 15,000 constituency commissions have been formed, charged with drafting the registers, whose total transparency is one of the most authentic characteristics of the electoral system in Cuba.

All Cuban residents who are 16 and above and who have no legal restrictions are included on the voting lists, which have a universal and automatic character in Cuba, given that everyone is born with the right to be registered once they are old enough, without having to do any paperwork or make any payment.

It is also fitting to note the role played by the community social organizations in detecting errors or omissions on the lists and during house calls made jointly with the electoral authorities with the aim of guaranteeing that everyone verifies his or her name, address and ID number.

The nomination assemblies for delegate candidates ended on March 24, and from Sunday, March 27, their biographies will be posted.