In a press conference, Balceiro highlighted the satisfactory progress of the preparations for the national elections scheduled for next March 26 and the characteristics that distinguish this process on the island.

For that date, Cubans with the right to vote are summoned to the polls to elect the 470 deputies to the National Assembly of People’s Power (unicameral Parliament) in its tenth legislature, for a period of five years.

She pointed out that the organization of the elections is progressing according to schedule and that CEN officials check the validation process of the candidates for deputies approved in assemblies throughout the country.

She has also worked on the verification of voters’ lists and the identification of the 23 thousand 647 polling stations, the preparation of authorities in charge of the polling stations and other organizational aspects.

She added that everything must be ready to carry out a dynamic test on March 19 that allows verifying the operation of the electoral apparatus from the base to the national level.

Balceiro recalled that elections in Cuba have unique characteristics and become an event that concerns the entire population, not only because of the number of people who voluntarily participate as table staff, supervisors or collaborators, among other responsibilities, directing and organizing the process.

She pointed out that according to the laws, up to 50 percent of the candidates for deputies are district delegates (the base of the government system in Cuba), who were nominated and elected directly in neighborhood meetings.

These delegates, she explained, constituted the municipal assemblies of People’s Power, bodies that nominate the candidates for deputies who are finally elected by the population to occupy the seats in parliament, for which it can be ensured that the people are represented in all structures of government.

Electoral campaigns are not carried out on the island as is customary in other nations, but only the photos and biographies of the candidates are posted in visible places, 30 days before the appointment at the polls, under equal conditions, added Balceiro.

He highlighted as another distinctive feature, which he described as a strength of the Cuban electoral system, that while in other countries the polls are guarded by police or even military forces, in the Caribbean nation it is primary school students who ensure the proper exercise of the vote.

ef/lam/rc