HispanicBusiness

Over 140 thousand Cubans residing in the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguin, the most devastated by hurricane Sandy, are casting their votes Sunday to select the two-year and half-deputies to the municipal assemblies of the Peoples Power.

The only exceptions are in Santiago de Cuba, where the head municipality and Palma Soriano will hold their voting process in a proper time to be announce later, because of the devastation left by Sandy.

The National Electoral Commission, (NEC), informed that 477 polling stations have been opened on Sunday in the territories of Santiago de Cuba and Holguin to elect 170 deputies to the municipal government bodies.

Cuba held on October 21 the first round of general municipal elections, with a participation of the 94.21 percent of the registered electors, according to NEC figures.

In all the constituencies where no candidate obtained more than the half of the valid votes it was held a round off on November 4, except in the mentioned eastern provinces due to the serious damages of Sandy.

The hurricane Sandy swept eastern Cuba on October 25 with winds over the 108 mph, heavy rains, coastal flooding and land slides.

Sandy's hit over the island left 11 dead, over 3 million people affected, 200 thousand damaged houses and economic losses exceeding the 100 million dollars so far.

Santiago de Cuba, the capital city of the province with the same name, was the most seriously devastated territory by the hurricane.