Actual information on Cuba's government electoral system, without the propaganda.

[Judi Lynn]

From Green Left Weekly, 2010, as a f'r instance:

Myth and reality in Cuban electoral system

Sunday, May 16, 2010
By Arnold August

There are many myths about Cuba that the mainstream media happily reinforces, especially about Cuba’s democratic processes.

Contrary to media assertions, in Cuba there are general elections, the last ones taking place in 2007-08. In these elections, deputies to the parliament (National Assembly of People’s Power) and delegates to the provincial assemblies are elected for a five-year mandate.

Just before these elections, delegates to the municipal assemblies are elected, but only for a mandate of two-and-a-half years. In January 2008, elections took place for (among others) deputies to the National Assembly. All citizens 16 years and older had the right to vote.

The nominations for elections to the parliament are organised by the candidacy commissions at the national, provincial and municipal levels. These commissions are composed of representatives from all the mass organisations (but not the Communist Party nor the Communist Youth organisation), that is unions, students, small farmers, women and neighbourhood committees.

More:
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44131

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Cubans vote in parliamentary elections

Millions of people came out for vote dismissed by opposition as a "farce".
04 Feb 2013 03:08 GMT

Millions of Cubans voted Sunday for parliamentary candidates in elections critics say are closed and offer no real competition, but that the government defends as grass-roots democracy.

The elected legislature will convene February 24 and pick a new parliament chief for the first time in two decades, with the body's longtime leader, Ricardo Alarcon, not on the ballot.

The body is also expected to rename Raul Castro, whom state TV showed casting his ballot in the eastern province of Santiago, as president for another five years.

Voting began last October with municipal elections.

Term limits do not exist in Cuba, but on various occasions Castro has proposed limiting public officials, including the president, to two consecutive periods in office.

'I find it is more democratic'

Government critics call Cuban elections perfunctory, noting that only the Communist Party is permitted on the island and only one approved candidate is on the ballot for each seat in parliament. Castro and his older brother Fidel, now retired, have headed up the government for five decades.

Among those voting in Havana on Sunday was Fidel Castro, who appears in public only occasionally now since he fell ill in 2006 and stepped aside permanently less than years later.

A photograph published on the website of the Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde showed him at a polling station wearing a checked shirt and a dark jacket.

The former Cuban leader was among 25 National Assembly candidates from the eastern city of Santiago.

Authorities say the lack of multiple parties or political campaigning keeps corruption and special-interest money out of elections, and point to high turnout as proof that it's a participatory system.

More:
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/02/201323355018773.html

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The Cuban Political System; Know The Truth!

Know the truth!

Before the revolution in 1959 Cuba was a dictatorship in every sense of the word. The entire nation was suppressed under the tight grip of the dictator Fulgencio Batista. There were no free elections, opposition to Batista's power was forbidden, and the Cuban people were deprived of the basic human right to be allowed to act as a sovereign nation with the power to move forward, and form its own future.

Since the revolution in 1959, Cuba has travelled a long way, from the oppressed, suffering nation that it was, and has since established its own unique form of democracy.

However there is still limited access to information about Cuba, and what little information there is, is prone to be misleading, due to The United State Of America's domination over the majority of the world's media power. As a result, many people still posses unclear and misinformed views on the Cuban political system, forcing them to be critical of the so called 'dictatorship' which they believe is still enforced, making them sometimes even reluctant to either support, or travel to Cuba.


Some Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

Are there elections in Cuba?

Yes. There are direct elections to the Municipal, Provincial, and National Assemblies. The Cuban parliament is represented by the National Assembly.

Do all electoral candidates have to be a member of the Communist party?

No; although this is widely believed to be the case. Electoral Candidates for the Municipal council are nominated at local neighbourhood meetings which are generally well attended, and by electoral commissions, which consist of representatives of mass national organisations, such as trade unions, the national association of small farmers, and the federation of Cuban women. Electoral candidates for the municipal council can be anyone in the community, they are nominated by earning their respect in the neighbourhood for reasons such as, hard work, honesty, and known intelligence. It is not compulsory that these people are members of the communist party, although many are. No political party, including the Communist party is permitted to nominate, or campaign for any of the candidates.

More:
http://www.cubasol-manch.org.uk/democ.htm