HAVANA, Cuba.- Since he proximity of the general elections in Cuba, Radio Reloj publishes an exclusive interview with Marina Capo Ribalta, member of the National Electoral Commission, who delves into the characteristics and importance of the electoral register.

Capo Ribalta emphasizes the register has its legal base in the Constitution of the Republic, the Electoral Law and the Decree-Law number 248 of 2007. This last text explains the public, permanent and official character of the Electoral Register, because it contains the data of all the citizens with legal, physical and mental capacity to vote, over 16 year-olds and permanently residing in Cuba for not less than two years before the election.

The official adds that the mentally handicapped are exempted, after a judicial statement of his/her condition, as well as the judicially disabled by crime, an aspect reflected also in the Constitution.

Capo Ribalta says the Electoral Register has the names and surnames, identity number and address of each person, and it uses different sources for its permanent updating. The basic source is the identity system, while there are also work agreements with the Civil Registry, which reports the deceased, in addition to the courts in their different, and the field checks.

The member of the National Electoral Commission insists on it is vital that voters go to the registry authorities, to notify where they will vote on the day of the elections. She remembers that the electoral address can coincide or not with that of the identity card, what undoubtedly facilitates voters to vote in the place they live and are recognized by the community.

Capo Ribalta also highlights that citizens with right to vote can request their inclusion or exclusion to the person in charge of the voter registration or the corresponding electoral authority.