Cubans denounce irregularities during the Family Code referendum vote

Cubans have denounced this Sunday several irregularities during the referendum through which the regime submits the new Family Code for approval.

The anomaly that has been reported the most by several users on social networks is related to the fact that, when voting, the school number or the district number does not appear on the ballots, despite being referenced.

This was indicated by activist Yanilys Sariego, who participated in the referendum from the city of Cárdenas, in the province of Matanzas, specifically at the polling station located at the Emilia Casanova School.

Sariego explainedthat the ballots do not have either the school number or the electoral district number, and that “when I asked the person from the Communist Party in front, he informed me that they put that information at the end of each ballot, therefore the "They manipulate after the voters have voted."

The activist assured that she asked for “the incident book to record the complaint and they told me they didn't have it either.”

Sariego argues that these irregularities violate Electoral Law 127/19, which establishes in its article 68 that the president of the Electoral College Board must “process the claims that are formulated and report to the members of the Electoral College Board. Electoral College for its decision.”

“Why can ballots be manipulated after the vote beyond scrutiny? Why, if they have constituency and school references, do they not specify which one they belong to?” Sariego asks.

Likewise, Twitter user Alex noted this irregularity which, based on the screenshots of his ballots that several users have shared throughout the day, appears to be widespread.

“I think it is necessary to put the # d of the constituency and school, but fraud is fraud, even so, #YoVotoNo”,this user demanded along with an image of his ballot.

For his part, the Christian activist and content creator David Espinosa reported that, when he went to vote this Sunday at the school where he has done so all his life, his name did not appear in the registry, while that of his grandfather, who died more than a year ago, was still enrolled.

“I already voted. Curious: My grandfather who died more than a year ago was still on the registry, however I was not. They put me on a separate list. Anyway... I've done my part. I leave the rest to God." Espinosa said on Twitter, through the davidholamigente account.

This Sunday, after leaving the school where he voted, the Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canelrecognized the possibility that many Cubans cast a "punishment vote"in the Family Code referendum that is being held this Sunday in Cuba.

“We have to get used to the fact that in such complex issues where there is a diversity of criteria and in the middle of a complex situation there may even be people who have a vote of punishment,” he declared.

Although he expects a majority vote for Yes, Díaz-Canel admitted the possibility that a number of citizens may “have nothing against the (Family) Code,” but may take advantage of the opportunity of a ballot box to express their displeasure with the situation. criticism of the country.

The Family Code referendum, the first to be held in Cuba since the triumph of the revolution in 1959, began at 7:00 a.m. local time and will end at 6:00 p.m. local time, according to the schedule presented by the electoral authorities.

The new text would legalize same-sex marriage and civil unions, allow gay couples to adopt children, double women's rights and promote the equitable distribution of domestic responsibilities. It also includes new features such as prenuptial agreements and assisted pregnancy.