Havana, November 26 (RHC)-- The public counting of the votes of the first round of local elections held in Cuba Sunday started after the closing of some 24.000 polling stations island wide.

Due to bad weather in some parts of the country, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) authorized polling stations to be opened an additional hour and to close at 7 pm.

According to remarks to the press by the CNE Chairperson, Alina Balseiro, by 5 pm over 7 million registered voters had exercise their democratic right. She explained that the vote counting will proceed until Monday and that there will be a press conference at 3 pm to announce the elections’ preliminary results.

Balseiro added that the remarkable voter turnout was a demonstration of the Cuban people unity, and that enthusiasm and tranquility prevailed during this first stage of general elections 2017-2018.

“Choosing the best, the most capable and most loyal to the people” was the call that presided over these elections, that were preceded by the tribute to Cuban leader Fidel Castro on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death, marked on Saturday.

From a pool of over 27 thousand candidates, voters will choose 12.515 delegates that will make up the 168 Municipal Assemblies of Peoples Power accross the island.