Over Eight Million Cubans to Vote in Municipal Elections

At seven sharp this morning, 24,646 polling stations scattered throughout Cuba opened their doors to allow over eight million Cubans to exercise their right to vote at the municipal elections.

The polling stations will remain open till six pm, announced the National Electoral Commission (CEN by its Spanish acronym). The voting process started with the singing of the national anthem and the reading of an official communiqué issued by the CEN.

In the day marked by the celebrations of the 54 anniversary of the revolutionary victory over a mercenary invasion in Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs as it is known in the US), an average 348 Cubans will vote in each station, whose ballot boxes are guarded by pioneers.

This time 27,379 candidates were nominated to compete for 12,589 municipal assembly posts, the first rung on Cuba’s political ladder.

At six pm, the votes will be counted, and results will be known. According to CEN, the age range with the greatest representation is between 41 and 50 years of age, with some 35.2 percent of the total.