The turnout rate is largely seen as a way to measure support for the Communist Party of Cuba, the only one allowed on the island.
Cuban government officials say over 75% of eligible voters cast ballots Sunday in the legislative election, despite expectations of lower voter turnout due to increasing discontent on the island over economic hardship.
The turnout rate is largely used as a support indicator for the communist government, which is why in the last several months Cubans saw an extensive TV, social media and schools campaign to get out the vote, promoting a “unity vote” for the National Assembly candidates.
Meanwhile, opposition groups in Cuba and overseas exhorted people to abstain from voting, saying there are no opposition candidates and casting a vote would not make an impact of people’s lives.
The government said Cubans voted to endorse 470 people running for 470 seats, including candidates chosen in local elections and others representing groups such as labor unions. All the candidates were vetted by Communist Party officials and there were no opposition candidates.
The National Assembly votes for the president, prime minister and approves laws backed by the Communist Party. It is expected to re-elect President Miguel Díaz-Canel on April 19.
Cuban government officials say over 75% of eligible voters cast ballots Sunday in the legislative election, despite expectations of lower voter turnout due to increasing discontent on the island over economic hardship.
The turnout rate is largely used as a support indicator for the communist government, which is why in the last several months Cubans saw an extensive TV, social media and schools campaign to get out the vote, promoting a “unity vote” for the National Assembly candidates.
Meanwhile, opposition groups in Cuba and overseas exhorted people to abstain from voting, saying there are no opposition candidates and casting a vote would not make an impact of people’s lives.
The government said Cubans voted to endorse 470 people running for 470 seats, including candidates chosen in local elections and others representing groups such as labor unions. All the candidates were vetted by Communist Party officials and there were no opposition candidates.
The National Assembly votes for the president, prime minister and approves laws backed by the Communist Party. It is expected to re-elect President Miguel Díaz-Canel on April 19.
Roughly 68% of eligible voters participated in last November’s municipal elections. While the rate is high for international standards, it’s not for Cuba, where voting is considered a national duty. Candidates for government use to garner a “yes” vote well above 90%.
Cuba does not allow independent, international observers to monitor elections.
The U.S. embassy in Havana called Sunday’s election “antidemocratic” in a tweet, writing, “the Cuban people deserve real choices in real elections that feature candidates from more than a single party and beyond the Communist Party.”
Brian Nichols, U.S. assistant secretary for Western hemisphere affairs, tweeted that “when the only choice is the Communist party and closed committees choose candidates to run unopposed, there is no democracy, only autocracy and misery.”
But the government says their electoral system is inclusive and stays away from campaigning and big money donations.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz Canel tweeted on Monday a picture of himself voting and wrote in Spanish, “Since yesterday we said it: we trust our people, who went out and defended the Revolution.”
And he continued: “Despite the draconian measures of the U.S., despite the ferocious campaign and the calls for absenteeism, #CubaGanó.” (which translates to #CubaWon.)
Members of the legislature include Elián González, who was only 5 years old when he became the center of a high-profile international custody battle. González was rescued by a fisherman in November 1999 after his mother and others drowned trying to reach the U.S. His relatives in Miami wanted to keep him in the U.S. but he was eventually returned to his father in Cuba.
Mariela Castro, an LGBTQ advocate and daughter of the late former leader Raúl Castro, is also a legislator.