Cuba Prepares for Its Exercise in Democracy

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Cuba Prepares for Its Exercise in Democracy

Up until Saturday, local volunteers across Cuba will be brushing up on electoral laws and complementary rules in preparation for the upcoming January 20 general election

By: Agnerys Rodríguez Gavilán

2008-01-09 | 11:28:41 EST

«Our democratic and electoral systems are preparing to give to the world another lesson in culture, civics and freedom,» said one local Cuban election official.

With only 11 days until the holding of elections for provincial delegates and deputies to the National Assembly, more than a few places on the island appear like beehives of activity as work continues around the clock. Likewise, the mass of citizens themselves, who will go to the urns on January 20 to select their representatives, seem immersed in the organization of these elections.

Hundred of thousands of men and women —some designated as members of the electoral commissions at nation, provincial, municipality and district level, and others serving as members of electoral boards— are verifying all of the steps, tasks, assurances, responsibilities and indispensable details that are demanded by the law.

On the agenda of this army of volunteers are high-priority matters: the training of the members of the electoral boards and the verification of voter lists. These actions will have Saturday (January 12) as their deadline, so that by Sunday’s dawn an evaluation can be made across the length and breadth of the country to determine if Cuba is completely prepared to choose its representatives for the provincial assemblies and parliament.

In this respect, Tomás Amarán Díaz, secretary of the National Electoral Commission (CEN), said on Tuesday to JR that local election officials will be drilled up until this coming Saturday in order that they master with absolute clarity the established law and complementary rules of CEN for this second stage of the general elections.

Through special classes, all volunteers are expected to become proficient in the details of this stage of the electoral process and their respective responsibilities. At the same time, they will have the opportunity to ask questions, clarify doubts and exchange with others.

No less important is the verification of voter lists, which will be published in more than 38,000 polling stations a little more than a week before the elections.

This final phase of the preparations for the elections will conclude on Sunday, January 13 with a «dynamic evaluation» of the process.

This allows the National Electoral Commission to determine if its counterparts at the provincial, municipality and district levels have grasped the letter of the law.

As part of the rehearsal —that was said to have proven quite useful in all previous elections— the more than 38,000 polling stations that will be in operation on the January 20th general election will be opened. This will permit members of the electoral boards to make sure that they have all the materials, supplies and equipment on hand, as required by the National Electoral Commission.

That same day tests will be conducted on the communications systems, transportation arrangements and other logistical aspects to ensure their proper functioning.