The review of the means, mechanisms and systems that will operate in the midterm elections of April 19, took place last Sunday during a dynamic test (mock election), which fulfilled its objectives, Alina Balseiro, president of the National Electoral Commission (CEN), said during a press conference.
Election authorities were activated at all levels as well as the schools that will act as polling stations on Sunday, April 19, when delegates are elected to the Municipal Assemblies of People's Power.
All the necessary elements for the elections including ballot boxes, murals, flags, transportation, communications and the conditions of the schools were assessed.
Outstanding issues were identified at 748 schools, 3.03% of the total. The most relevant problems were in relation to telephones (0.85%), incomplete voting tables (0.59%), transport (0.37%) and others relating to the building conditions such as lighting, electricity supply, furniture, water, and toilets.
“Tomorrow the provinces will report back on the solution of these problems and on Thursday, via videoconference, we will exchange with the territories to obtain all the information,” Balseiro emphasized. As was reported, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sunday, April 12, a simulation of the election was undertaken in 10 to 15 schools in each municipality, providing another training exercise for those who will be responsible for polling stations on the day.
The President of the CEN explained that delays in the collection of results occurred in some places, due to a lack of training of data entry technicians and that tests were also conducted in the ETECSA offices that will provide services during the elections. Special CEN approved election commissions were activated, to compile and organize the necessary information.
“The Special Commission, according to the provisions of the Electoral Law, is an intermediate structure between the Municipal Election Commission and that of the Constituency, which have been organized in different territories, but not all, to obtain the information from a given People's Council or electoral district and help ensure the system flows well,” the CEN President noted.
In addition, the dynamic test included revision of the local groups who will receive, review and count the votes, not electoral structures themselves, but rather specialists of different fields that assist in the processing of primary data, which is then transmitted to the computing system of the elections, which operated optimally, and will help provide quality data with immediacy.
“In this dynamic test new elements were introduced. One of which is the consultation at documentation offices that will function as consultation offices of the commission at all levels,” Balseiro said.
If a member of the population goes to vote and finds they do not appear on the electoral register, the voting table can call the documentation office, to corroborate the identity of the individual and ensure they meet all the legal requirements to exercise their vote. 168 documentation offices were activated for this purpose across the country and during the mock election, 3,600 consultations were undertaken in municipal offices where any necessary checks regarding the electoral register can be conducted.
Those from the Joven Club de Computación (Youth Computing Club), the electric company, and other entities who will offer services on election day also participated in the test.
