1 of 2 Cubans at the Daughter of Bread in Havana on March 17, 2023 — Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal Cubans at the Daughter of Bread in Havana on March 17, 2023 — Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal
Cubans will go to the polls on Sunday (26th) in the general elections to elect the 470 deputies to the National Assembly for the next 5 years. There are 470 applicants. There is only one party in the country, the Communist Party of Cuba.
The parliamentary elections are the first since the adoption of a new constitution in 2019.
The outcome of this vote is important in determining who will be the next president.
What will Cubans vote for?
Voters in each district receive ballots that feature candidates from that particular district.
There are no opposition candidates.
- Miguel DíazCanel is elected leader of the Cuban Communist Party
- New people convicted of protests in Cuba will receive prison sentences of up to 18 years
2 of 2 Cuban women next to posters biographies of candidates in the country’s general elections on March 17, 2023 — Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal Cuban women next to posters biographies of candidates in the country’s general election on March 17, 2023 — Photo : Alexandre Meneghini /Portal
The vote may be for the district nominee, but there is also the option to vote “for all” which in practice is a way of eventually voting for the nominee for that district (see below).
Those elected serve 5year terms and receive no salary.
Who selected the candidates?
The candidates for the National Assembly were selected by committees made up of trade unionists, students and smallholders.
After being selected by these committees, their names went through the community meetings to apply.
There are 470 candidates for 470 vacancies. Why is voting?
Under Cuban law, candidates must cast more than half of the valid votes cast in a constituency (and voters can choose the “vote for all” option).
If a candidate does not receive half of the valid votes, two things can happen:
- The seat remains vacant for the next 5 years;
- Legislative leadership is asking the City Council to choose a different name.
what is at stake?
The abstention rate will be one of the most important issues. A possible high abstention can be an indication of dissatisfaction with the regime.
Cuba’s Supreme Court sentenced more than 100 people to prison last year for violence during protests
In the country of 11.1 million people without compulsory voting, turnout has fallen to its lowest level since the electoral system was introduced in 1976.
The country faces shortages of food, fuel, medicines and electricity. This led to the July 2021 protests, believed to be the largest since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.
new president
The deputies will meet 45 days after the elections to choose who will be the President of the Republic of Cuba (he will be one of them) and the legislative leaders.
The current President, Miguel DiazCanel, is also the leader of the Communist Party. He should be reelected as President.