Upcoming Elections in Cuba
We are ready to receive the people in the polling stations to elect the delegates who will represent them in the municipal assemblies of the People’s Power.
Just a few hours before this November 26, President of the National Electoral Commission (CEN) Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez assured that the country is ready to carry out the first stage of the general elections.
More than 8 million Cubans are registered as electors with right to vote. We expect everything will go as established, stated the CEN president, who offered details about the videoconference with all municipalities this Thursday to assess the situation in every territory and validate that everything is ready for the voting.
The trial run, where the electoral system got underway, had a positive balance –she stressed-, although some difficulties had to be solved, like electricity, transportation and the tables required. Just a few hours before the election day, it is important to clarify that this has been a process organized by the entire country, Balseiro Gutiérrez highlighted.
She went on to say that more than 200 000 electoral authorities had already taken over, except for the tables to be constituted next Sunday, although they had been already designated. Cooperators and Supervisors will join the work, in addition to the much needed role played by the mass organizations.
CEN President appreciated the fact that the nomination process, extended because of the passage of hurricane Irma, make easier a better organization and participation.
She also stressed that the implementation of a broad training system resulted in greater success.
“We consider the nomination as positive, since we added more than 60 800 proposals in neighborhood meetings, a clear demonstration of popular participation and the people’s knowledge, and confidence in the elections as a moment for participation”, she stressed.
She praised the fact that more than 6 746 000 people took part in the nominations, a higher percent of attendance as compared to 2015. “That speaks volumes of the responsibility, since these meetings take place in the evening, in complex hours, and there was a lot of rain during that period”, she stated.
“We all are the people invested with electoral authority”, the CEN president recalled, and delved into the fact that 78 % of the authorities have previous experience from other processes, which ratifies the capacity of these elections.
This has been a great effort, in which 27 221 candidates will run, out of them 12 515 will be elected, one for each electoral district of the country. And a runoff vote will be staged if needed on December 3, she recalled.
She also said that the voting lists are in the final stage of printing. As a recommendation for the electors, the CEN president suggested that every citizen has the right to vote, and that the polling stations will be open from 6 am to 6 pm.
“If there is anything to do is to go voting and voting early”. Balseiro Gutiérrez reminded that you can only vote for one person, and everyone can ask the tables about how to vote. “They have to vote aware that they are electing the delegate of their district, that person who will represent them with dignity.”
The neighborhood organization
The current elections have been part of the preparations for the 9th Congress of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), to take place in 2018, said national coordinator of the organization Carlos Miranda.
When the role of the CDR was defined, the importance of the elections in the life of the organization was clearly stated, said Miranda, since it has to help mobilize voters and in the arrangement and good state of the places selected as polling stations, among other significant instants.
The debates in the neighborhood have provided the opportunity to approach this issue and the importance of taking part in the vote counts, Carlos Rafael highlighted, who stressed that the 9th Congress Youth Groups made up by more than 7 200 young members, have helped in the supply for the elections.
“as indicated on day 26 all structures should be early in their corresponding places- he said. We have to be next to the electoral authorities. Our organization was born by Fidel’s idea and we are committed to achieve quality in the voting. That will be Cuba’s gift to Fidel.
Women’s vote
Over 35% of nominated to the municipal assemblies of the People’s Power were women, they are candidates in more than 63% of electoral districts; and are favored by the vote intentions in more than 1 800 districts, 69% of electoral authorities are held by them…
These are hearts rather than numbers. The recognition of Cuban society to women exceeds any estimation.
The Secretary General of the Cuban Women’s Federation (FMC) Teresa Amarelle Boué, acknowledged the women on behalf of the whole people. The success of the People’s Power election process is also for the women, who have injected enthusiasm, dynamism, responsibility. It is also, he said, a token of leadership in all the fields of the Revolution, as shown during the recovery from the damage caused by hurricane Irma.
He highlighted that the elections this November 26 will be a moment for enthusiasm, optimism, where the role of women is vital and indispensable. The women sector will go en masse to the polling stations, he said in the TV Round Table.
They will also go voting to demonstrate the continuity of Fidel’s legacy and leadership, the member of the PCC politburo stressed.
The youth and the votes
Like the FMC Secretary General, University Student Federation (FEU) chairman Raúl Alejandro Palmero called women and the youth to take part in the tweet for Cuba taking place until today.
The student leader highlighted in the TV program the youth’s involvement in the elections next Sunday, which, he considered, is a constitutional right, a proof of solidarity of our political system.
He also announced that in addition to the more than 5 000 young Cubans nominated for the municipal assemblies, the new generations have a good representation in the process with more than 12 000 cooperators from FEU and FEEM organizations, a mass movement with great acceptance in the youth.
These elections, in which more than 300 000 young voters will have their first experience, will be –Palmeiro said- another token of the loyalty and the commitment of the youth with the concept of Revolution. The best tribute to Fidel, he stressed, will be to go voting.