Inhabitants of the community of Simon Bolívar in the city of Cienfuegos turned out early to the polls to vote in a gesture of democracy and unity of the Cuban people.

Rodolfo Alarcon, president of the 113 electoral district of Cienfuegos, told the Cuban Agency News that all polling stations opened at 7:00 am sharp ready to begin the voting day. Alarcon said that he saw the first voters arrive as early as 5:30 a.m. to wait for polling stations to open in the community of Simon Bolivar, where some 150 citizens are registered to vote.

The community is famous for being home to the first Petro-houses made from oil derivatives under the framework of Cuban-Venezuelan cooperation initiatives. After casting their vote, many went of to work in the neighbouring Cienfuegos Oil Refinery. Just days ago, the plant began processing the first barrels of oil after a massive restoration project saw the reopening of the refinery.

This new community, formed by 100 homes built with materials donated to the city of Cienfuegos by Venezuela, includes 1 of 13 new electoral colleges formed in the province since the last elections.