Around seven million people, or over 90 percent of Cuba's registered voters, have taken part in Sunday's local council elections, Tomas Amaran Diaz, a secretary of the National Election Commission said.
The high turnout reflected the voters' will and the island nation's organization ability, he told the state television channel.
Some 8.3 million Cubans were registered to vote Sunday, the first municipal elections since Fidel Castro handed power to his brother Raul Castro. Nearly 37,750 candidates were competing for more than 15,000 seats on the nation's 169 municipal councils. Balloting began at 7:00 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) and ended at 6:00 p.m. local time (2200 GMT).
Those elected are also eligible to take part in elections for up to half the seats in the National People's Power Assembly, Cuba's legislature.
New polls will be held next Sunday in precincts where none of candidates fail to win more than 50 percent of the vote.
Source: Xinhua
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