Cubans began voting early on Sunday for the 470 lawmakers who will represent them in the country´s National Assembly in a closely watched election, seen as a referendum on the communist-run government at a time of deep economic crisis.
Voting centres in the capital Havana opened at 7 a.m. ET and bustled with activity as citizens arrived to cast ballots at the city’s share of more than 23,000 official ballot sites throughout the country.
Cuba´s government, saddled by shortages, inflation and growing social unrest, has encouraged unity in Sunday´s vote, calling on citizens to vote together in a broad show of support for the communist leadership.
Havana resident, Humberto Avila says he will likely sit out Sunday’s legislative elections.
Ahead of Cuba’s legislative elections, declining voter turnout could threaten the new assembly’s credibility amid a deep economic downturn https://t.co/gnIdGVvtil pic.twitter.com/iSLUTLp73I
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 24, 2023
Ana Lydia Velazquez, a 78-year old retired Havana resident, speaks about a message that resonated with her.
“I believe all Cubans should go to vote, to help our country improve, and advance,” she said. “We are going through a critical situation and we all have to pitch in.” says Velazquez.
Anti-government forces, primarily off-island in a country that restricts dissident political speech, have encouraged the opposite, calling on Cubans to abstain and labeling the election a “farce.”
Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who voted in his hometown of Santa Clara just after sunrise on Sunday, said the people would have the last word.
Diaz-Canel adds, “Some people may put the difficult economic situation ahead of their willingness to vote, but I don´t think it will be a majority.
The 470 candidates on Sunday´s paper ballot are vying for 470 open seats. There are no opposition candidates.
A high rate of abstention would not have any immediate impact on the election´s outcome, as the winners of the contest must receive more than half the votes of those who choose to cast ballots.
