Cuban Electoral Process Marked by Turnout and Transparency

Havana, Cuba, Jul 18.- Elections in Cuba are characterized by the active, mass turnout of the people and transparency throughout the whole process, the President of the National Electoral Commission (CEN), Alina Balseiro, said today.

In an interview with Prensa Latina, she explained that in Cuba everyone over the age of 16 who is legally entitled, may vote to choose those they consider to have the greatest merit and moral standing to represent their fellow citizens.

Recently, the State Council called general elections to choose delegates to the municipal and provincial assemblies of the People's Power, as well as deputies of the National Assembly of the People's Power (Parliament), the only body with constituent, legislative authority in the country.

This call for general elections is made every five years, with primary elections being held every two and a half years, as established under the nation's Electoral Law, said Balseiro.

According to the official, prior to the primaries, scheduled for October 21 this year, assemblies will be held to nominate candidates in the neighborhoods. These are characterized by mass turnout.

The candidates to the municipal assemblies, or local governments, are chosen in the electoral districts, which contribute one delegate each.

Those proposals, along with a process of selection made by mass organizations, constitute the source of delegates to the provincial assemblies and of the deputies to the National Assembly, she noted.

She recalled that in the primaries held in 2010, some 8.5 million Cubans cast their vote, from a population of a little over 11 million, and turnout in the upcoming voting is expected to be similar.

The Electoral Commission and all electoral authorities have set a work schedule aimed at informing the population about all steps related to the polls.

Unlike other countries, where holding elections implies tight security measures, in Cuba the ballot boxes are guarded mainly by elementary school children, she noted.

As part of the transparency of the process, Balseiro highlighted the fact that the vote count is made publicly, in front of the people, who exert t heir right to elect their representatives voluntarily and secretly.

According to the Cuban electoral official, one of the most important features of the Cuban electoral system is that the nominations are made by the people, who elect their representatives, and not by any political party.

In this regard, she said it is worth mentioning that our candidates excel and are nominated because of their human values, their prestige as citizens, their personal merits and not because of their wealth. (Radio Cadena Agramonte).