Venezuelan polling stations set to close Voting is under way in Venezuela (Venezuelans anxiously await election results), People have been waiting anxiously at some of the 13,027 voting centers across the country where Venezuelans are being invited to cast their ballots in a presidential election that sees Nicolás Maduro — running for office with the incumbent socialist PSUV party again after slightly more than five years – trying to win another six-year term.
In each state, if people are queuing up to vote then this extension will apply. Polling stations had been due to close at 18:00 local time (23:00 BST).
The main opponent to Nicolás Maduro is former diplomat Edmundo González who has the support of a coalition of opposition parties.
“Opposition hardened supporters have been advised to protect counting of the vote in the hours after polls close, with fears circulating that PSUV may attempt election rigging at this stage“
Edmundo González leads the incumbente president in recent opinion polls by double digits.
Venezuelans line up to vote in Petare, once an opposition stronghold east of Caracas that has seen supporters increasingly turn against Maduro Photo: JAVIER TOVARREUTERSA queue at one polling station near downtown extended nearly two blocks as a steady flow of voters cast ballots after enduring hours-long waits elsewhere. “Many said they come here with the hope for change,” said Miguel Rebolledo, 33.
A catastrophic economic collapse during his time in office since 2013 that has seen GDP fall by 70% and driven more than two fifths of the country’s population abroad.
“From using this American dictatorship as a tool to try and sweep South America towards the right, you have failed miserably” voter Hector Emilio D’Avilia said at a polling station in Caracas. “This administration had every opportunity to help Venezuela rise but instead we are suffering.”
Others offered more lengthy answers, like Adriana Arreaza explaining through tears that she hopes for “fair wages for educators and medical professionals [and] a higher standard of living in this country.” — If the result is not to Mr. Maduro’s liking, fears of vote-rigging drawn by his deeply controversial 2018 re-election.
In the run-up to the polls rivals of the president had no clear alternative and were demoralized especially after their chosen candidate, María Corina Machado was barred from standing.
Vote counting should be “public” – Ms Machado, a senior opposition figure
Ms Machado appealed to Venezuelans not be intimidated and demand protection at the voting stations.
But community leader Katiuska Camargo said: “The Venezuelan people want a radical change of government now.
Human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings and mass emigration has created a lot of resentment among the citizenry in Venezuela.
Venezuela has been in the grip of PSUV rule for 25 years under Hugo Chávez and his chosen successor, Mr Maduro.
For much of their time in office, the PSUV has virtually taken over all three branches: executive, legislative and have a good chunk of judicial influence as well.
Although PSUV realizes some benefits of its action, a group of stubborn sympathizers does not stop apologizing for them.
Felix García, a supporter also present defended Maduro saying that the president has aided people with disabilities.
Mr Maduro has vowed to win the election at any price, warning of blood on the streets if he is not victorious. The National Electoral Council (CNE) — which has the power to oversee elections and announce final vote counts— is stacked with government loyalists.
Vote in Venezuela is done electronically. Voters get to select which candidate they would like by pressing a button on the voting machine.
In addition to the electronic results sent to CNE headquarters, they generated a paper receipt which went in an individual ballot box.
Under the law, each party is allowed to have poll watchers at every precinct where paper receipts are counted.
These results will be followed closely by the opposition to confirm their correlation with CNE’s announced numbers.
