Over 8.4 million people are registered to vote Sunday in Cuba to elect members to the provincial and national parliaments. The polls opened at 7:00 a.m. local time.

In a brief swearing in ceremony, the poll workers sang the national anthem and signed the code of conduct committing them to act with transparency, impartiality and fairness.

As soon as the doors opened people began arriving to cast their votes in the ballot boxes guarded by young students belonging to the Jose Marti children’s organization. This role of 5^th to 9^th graders became a tradition since 1959 after the triumph of the Cuban revolution, reported Prensa Latina news agency.

Over 38,000 polling stations opened for Cuba’s general elections. Election officials note that the candidates represent all sectors of Cuban society. Half were nominated after being elected at the grassroots level and the other 50% were elected by social and mass organizations.

Voters can choose to vote for the entire slate or individual candidates, all nominated for their capacity, commitment and experience by the city councils, labor, civic and other organizations.

Workers, outstanding intellectuals, athletes, scientists, community leaders, journalists, representative of religious associations and members of the armed forces are among the candidates.

Of the 614 candidates to the National Assembly, 43.16 percent are women. If elected, Cuba will have the world’s third highest presence of women in parliament.

According to Cuban electoral law, the newly elected members of the parliament will elect a 31-member Council of State and they, in turn, will elect the President, the First Vice-President and the five Vice-Presidents and the Secretary to that body of the People’s Power.

Election authorities told the press that equipment, material resources and trained personnel are at work to guarantee a fully transparent and quality election.