Two thirds of Cuban voters supported the Family Law reform backed by the Miguel Diaz-Canel government in a national referendum, marking a decisive step for legalization that includes marriage equality and surrogacy on the island, as reported by official channels.
Alina Balseiro Gutierrez, head of the National Electoral Council, spoke to the media on Monday, confirming that sixty-six point eight seven percent of the valid votes, more than three point nine million, endorsed the reform, while thirty-three point one three percent, surpassing one point nine million, voted against it. This summary reflects the official tally as announced by the electoral authorities.
Although the census has not yet been finalized in every district, the data suggest an irreversible trend with about seventy-four percent voter turnout. Official media noted that the head of the CEN congratulated the public for their participation in the process, underscoring the importance of civic engagement in the referendum.
The results were announced during a meeting led by Diaz-Canel to review the developments from Hurricane Ian. Those in attendance, including the president and other officials, reacted with applause after the confirmed yes vote, a moment captured and shared on social media by the Cuban Presidency with the message Love is already the law, marking a public celebration of the reform trajectory.
Diaz-Canel also communicated via Twitter a sense of joy at the initial results, even as he warned that Cuba could face a challenging week ahead due to Ian’s impact. The government leadership framed the turnout and results as a demonstration of national cohesion in the face of adversity.
Within the campaign, supporters of the reform included members of the ruling party who urged yes votes. On the other side, the Catholic Church along with a portion of the opposition questioned whether participation in the consultation provided legitimate consent for the changes, arguing it served to legitimize the current government rather than reflect a broad consensus.