Cubans are heading to the polls to vote for the 470 lawmakers who will represent them in the National Assembly, in an election that is being closely watched as a referendum on the communist

government during a time of deep economic crisis. The voting centers in Havana opened at 7 a.m. ET and by mid-day, citizens were arriving to cast their ballots at the city's more than 23,000 official ballot sites throughout the country.

As of 11 a.m. ET, nearly 42% of the country had voted, according to Cuba's National Electoral Council (CEN). The government, which is struggling with shortages, inflation, and growing social unrest, has encouraged unity, calling on citizens to vote together in a broad show of support for the communist leadership.

The election is seen as an important moment for Cuba, as the country is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. embargo. The country is experiencing food and medicine shortages, as well as long lines for basic necessities. The government has been forced to make some changes, including allowing more private enterprise, but many Cubans are calling for more significant reforms.

The opposition, which is not allowed to campaign or have a formal presence in the National Assembly, has called for a boycott of the election, saying that it is a sham and that real change cannot come from within the current system.

The government has rejected these claims, saying that the election is free and fair and that the opposition is attempting to undermine the democratic process. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has called on the Cuban people to vote and to show their support for the country's socialist system.

Some Cubans, however, are expressing their discontent with the government by not voting. A Havana resident, who did not want to be named, told Reuters that he was not going to vote because he didn't believe that it would make any difference.

The international community is also watching the election closely, with many countries expressing their support for the Cuban people and their desire for democracy and human rights. The U.S. has said that it will continue to pressure the Cuban government to make reforms, while Russia and China have expressed their support for the current leadership.

The results of the election are expected to be announced on Monday. Photo by Krestavilis at en.wikipedia