Cubans Voting for Neighborhood Delegates

HAVANA TIMES — Around eight million Cubans are expected to go to the polls today to vote for their neighborhood delegates, some of whom will make it to the Poder Popular city councils.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and close at 6:00 p.m. The voting age in Cuba is 16.

The vote is the only contested balloting on the Cuban general election calendar that by February is expected to include the unanimous election of a new 600+ member one-chamber parliament and its subsequent designation of a new president.

No campaigning is allowed in the Cuban electoral system where the candidates are restricted to posting a one-page resume and a small photograph in public places in their voting district.

Nobody publicizes their views on any issues facing their community or the nation… the only matter at hand is who is the most qualified person to promote the Communist Party/government policies and programs on the local level.

Each voting circumscription has a minimum of two and maximum of eight candidates seeking the unpaid delegate post. If no candidate receives a simple majority of the votes, a runoff election will take place on October 28.