Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez, President of the National Electoral Council
Havana, Sep 19 (RHC) The president of the National Electoral Council (CEN), Alina Balseiro Gutiérrez, announced that in view of the popular referendum on the Family Code to be held next September the 25th, a dynamic test was successfully carried out in Cuba.
During an exchange with the press, she specified that first, the 24,860 polling stations in the nation were opened from seven to nine in the morning. Then it was verified that the authorities were in place and that the conditions were optimal.
She added that from that moment on, a practical test to assess the process of scrutiny was carried out. The communication and transportation plan were verified, as well as the training and preparation of those involved.
The Minister said that the nationwide exercise concluded with very satisfactory results, even though it allowed to found some difficulties.
Among the problems detected were the absence of some polling station authorities, setbacks with lighting and access to the premises, telephone interruption, lack of transport couriers, and electrical and data entry difficulties in certain municipalities.
However, she emphasized that these issues were reported in an insignificant percentage, and in the next 72 hours they will work to resolve them.
Regarding the voting abroad, the President of the National Electoral Council explained that it began out as of 7:00 a.m. according to the schedules of each country, and has been satisfactorily carried out with the corresponding reports.
She pointed out that this process will be extended until tonight and its results will be taken into account on the coming 25th, when the popular referendum will be held in the largest of the Antilles.
All the polling stations abroad were activated with the indicated steps, she added, and reminded that this stage contemplates the voting of more than 22 thousand voters.
She ratified that the conditions are created for the voters to exercise their sovereign right to vote freely, directly and secretly on September 25.
She commented that posters indicating the location of the polling stations, which already have the ballots and lists, have been distributed in all the districts.
The vote always counts, concluded Alina Balseiro, who called on Cubans to participate in this democratic exercise.
Of the polling stations that were prepared, 224 are special (located in hospitals, terminals, hotels and places with a large concentration of people to facilitate access to vote), and 1,823 are located in private homes.
According to the National Electoral Council data, there is an average of 342 people per polling station, in a total of 12,635 precincts in the Island. (Source:PL)
