Editing Politics of Cuba (section)

== Political parties and elections ==
{{Main|List of political parties in Cuba|Elections in Cuba}}

Suffrage is automatically afforded to Cuban citizens who have resided in Cuba for at least two years and are at least sixteen years old. Those legally declared "mentally handicapped" or who are serving time in prison cannot exercise this right. Cubans who live abroad for personal reasons for more than 24 consecutive months lose their right to vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cuba's Constitution of 2019 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cuba_2019.pdf?lang=en |website=Constitute Project}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Querido |first=Leandro |date=2022-09-21 |title=The Cuban referendum and the right to vote |url=https://latinoamerica21.com/en/the-cuban-referendum-and-the-right-to-vote/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Latinoamérica 21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{r|august2013|p=156-157}} The national elections for the 470 members<ref>{{cite web |title=Elecciones nacionales en Cuba con alta participación popular |url=https://www.granma.cu/elecciones-cuba-2022-2023/2023-03-27/elecciones-nacionales-en-cuba-con-alta-participacion-popular |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Granma.cu |language=es}}</ref> of the National Assembly of People's Power are held according to this system and the precepts of the 1976 [[Constitution of Cuba|Constitution]].

General elections consist of two phases: municipal elections and elections to ANPP (National Assembly of People's Power, or Parliament).<ref>[http://www.cubasocialista.com/democracia1.htm El sistema político y electoral cubano] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130090254/http://cubasocialista.com/democracia1.htm |date=2009-01-30 }}. Cubasocialista.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.</ref> They are usually called in July and are held every five years. After elections are called, Council of State designates members of CEN (National Electoral Commission). The CEN oversees elections, but does not participate in them. It is responsible for surveying and inspecting the election procedure and ensure it conforms with the Constitution and electoral law. The CEN appoints CEP (Provincial Electoral Commission), which in turn appoints CEM (Municipal Electoral Commission). The latter lead formation of electoral commissions at the grassroots. There are roughly 1450 people in each of these ''circunscripcións''.{{r|august2013|p=154-156}}

For the purpose of Municipal elections, each ''circunscripción'' is further divided into two to eight areas with the goal of allowing nomination meetings to be very compressed and based on the grassroots. The number of nomination areas is determined by the population in the ''circunscripción''. In rural areas, extension of territory is also taken into consideration. People have the right to participate, nominate and vote only in the area in which they live. Nomination area assembly meetings are normally held in public areas at eight o'clock in the evening on weekdays or during the day on the weekend. Each assembly is presided over by the local electoral commission. Individuals have the right to propose anyone who lives in their ''circunscripción'' as long as the person has indicated they are willing to be nominated. The person nominating must provide a reason for nomination. Others have the right to argue against a nomination. When this is done, a show-of-hands vote is taken and counted by the electoral commission. The person with the most votes becomes the candidate for that nomination area. In order to ensure the law is being followed, members of CEP make surprise visits to nomination meetings.{{r|august2013|p=157-159}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bnjm.cu/secc/home/ley-electoral.pdf|title=Ley No. 127, Artículo 93.1|date=August 19, 2019}}</ref>

Once candidates have been nominated, the local electoral commission obtains a short biographical profile and a photo from them. These are posted in local public spaces for easy access to voters. This is the only publicity permitted under the electoral law. Voters are expected to read the profiles in order to make their choice. Campaigning is not permitted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oncubanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ley-Electoral-2017-18.pdf|title=Ley No. 72, Artículo 171|date=April 2018|access-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref> Duharte Díaz, professor at University of Havana, is of the opinion that posting profiles is insufficient and that more should be done to present the candidates.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Cuban Political System: Current Status and Possible Reforms for an Integral and Democratic Participative Transformation|date=Winter 2018|journal=International Journal of Cuban Studies|volume=10|number=2|pages=175–208|author=Emilio Antonio Duharte Díaz|doi=10.13169/intejcubastud.10.2.0175 |jstor=10.13169/intejcubastud.10.2.0175 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Municipal elections are usually held in October. On the day of the vote, held always on a Sunday, voters confirm their voting eligibility by presenting their identification cards and are then handed a ballot with names of candidates nominated in their ''circunscripción''. Voting is secret. To win, a candidate must receive at least 50% plus one of the vote. If this does not happen, the candidate who placed last is eliminated and voting is repeated with remaining candidates.{{r|august2013|p=162-163}}

Candidates elected in municipal elections carry out their functions on a voluntary basis after their regular work hours. Once municipal assemblies are constituted, they elect their presidents and vice-presidents from among themselves. These individuals are the only ones who are full-time, earning the same salary as they received at their place of work.{{r|august2013|p=146-147}}

Second phase, elections to ANPP (Parliament), is different from municipal elections. Up to half of the members of parliament are nominated from individuals elected in municipal election. The rest are nominated by mass organisations. These are [[Workers' Central Union of Cuba]], [[Federation of Cuban Women]], [[National Association of Small Farmers]], Federation of University Students, Federation of Pre-University Students and [[Committees for the Defense of the Revolution]]. To propose candidates for elections each of the six mass organisations assembles at all three levels in plenary sessions to propose candidates from the population. The goal is  to obtain a pool of potential candidates representing a wide cross-section of the population. Because of this, each of the mass organisations at all three levels (municipal, provincial, national) has the right to propose at least three times the number of candidates needed for each municipality to be represented in the parliament. The proposals are sent to CCN (National Candidacies Commission) which then reduces the list down to the number of seats.{{r|august2013|pages=167-171}}

Before elections (that usually happen in January), meetings between candidates and workers are held in places of work and in the neighbourhoods. Similarly to municipal elections, the only publicity allowed is a short biography and a photo. Elections happen on a Sunday. Voters are given a ballot with the names of candidates chosen by the CCN to represent their municipality. They can choose to vote for all, some or none of the candidates. To be elected, a candidate must receive at least 50% plus one of the valid votes. If they do not, a new candidate is chosen for the seat and voting repeated.{{r|august2013|pages=174-175}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cuba-solidarity.org.uk/resources/democracyfactsheet2015.pdf|title=Cuban Democracy Fact Sheet|author=Cuban Solidarity Campaign|access-date=27 June 2022}}</ref>