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Cuba's local elections see lower voter turnout

Xinhua, April 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some 88.3 percent of the 8.5 million eligible voters cast their ballots Sunday in Cuba's local elections, six points lower than the voter turnout in October 2012, the National Electoral Commission said Monday.

Commission President Alina Balseiro attributed the drop to the new migratory laws that allow Cubans to travel abroad freely.

Dozens of thousands of Cubans are at the moment traveling abroad and unable to vote, Balseiro told a news conference.

Some 11,425 representatives for 168 municipal assemblies have been chosen from the 27,379 candidates, according to preliminary data.

Meanwhile, 1,164 constituencies will have to run a second round on the coming Sunday as none of the candidates reached majority.

Cuba's local elections are held every two and half years. General elections for provincial assemblies and the national parliament are held every five years. Endi