Voters Head to Polls to Pick Local Assemblies

Millions of Cubans voted for 169 municipal assemblies across the communist-run island in elections President Fidel Castro defended as “the most democratic in the world.�

In Cuba, city and provincial leaders, as well as National Assembly members, are elected by citizens. Anyone can be nominated, including nonmembers of the Communist Party -- the only one recognized by Cuba’s constitution. But the island’s top leader is nominated and elected by the assembly.

Cuba defends its system as democratic, but critics of Castro argue that tight state control, a heavy police presence and neighborhood watch groups prevent any real political freedom.