Millions of Cubans head to polls

HAVANA, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Millions of Cubans headed to the polls Sunday for National Assembly elections that included ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro on the ballot.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and drew more than 8 million people, Granma newspaper reported online Sunday.

Results were not expected until Monday.

Despite his continuing poor health, Castro, 81, remained on the ballot for the country's National Assembly. By law, Cuba's leader must first be elected to the assembly before being named to the post of head of the Council of State, Cuba's highest governing body.

Though still the country's official leader, Castro handed over authority to his brother Raul Castro in July 2006 after announcing he was suffering from a gastro-intestinal illness and undergoing surgery.