VENEZUELA: Venezuelans heed call to turn out en masse to vote in presidential race

Record ID: 702376

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Venezuelans heed call to turn out en masse to vote in presidential race
  • Date: 8th October 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF JAUA CASTING HIS BALLOT
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7CHHOSOSIL131SRN4Q0ZZSLU2
  • Story Text: Venezuelans heeded the call to vote on Sunday (October 7), turning out in large numbers to cast their ballots.
    President Hugo Chavez faces his biggest electoral challenge yet to his 14-year socialist rule. His rival, opposition governor Henrique Capriles, has tapped into discontent over crime and cronyism.
    Venezuela's Vice President Elias Jaua cast his ballot and expressed confidence that the vote would proceed smoothly.
    "Everything has been functioning normally. So far there have been no incidents and there is no reason for that to happen. This is a democratic party and it has to be carried out properly. There are no reasons for any kind of violence, for confrontation. It is a moment where all of us can express our views by way of an electronic instrument that is advanced and provided by the National Electoral Council," Jaua said.
    There are no formal international observers, although Venezuela has invited a delegation from the UNASUR group of South American nations to "accompany" the vote.
    One of those observers told Reuters that the voting centres were running well.
    "We have observed the set up of the operations at the voting centres within the legal parameters. We have observed that there is order and enthusiasm in an event that has democratic characteristics," UNASUR observer Jose Montoya said.
    Most well-known pollsters put Chavez in front. But two have Capriles just ahead, and his numbers have crept up in others.
    Local groups will be monitoring and both sides say they trust the electronic, fingerprint vote system. The opposition says it will have witnesses at all of the 13,810 polling centres, from tiny Amazon villages to tough Caracas slums.
    Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (1030-2230 GMT), although polls will stay open later if there are lines. Results are due any time starting late on Sunday evening.
    The electoral authority says it will only announce the results once there is an "irreversible trend".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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