Venezuela votes in regional election under international eye
ABC News
Venezuela’s electoral system will be put to the test as millions of voters across the South American country are expected to decide thousands of races in a highly scrutinized regional election
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela’s electoral system will be put to the test Sunday when millions of voters across the South American country are expected to decide thousands of races in highly scrutinized regional elections.
The contest will be observed by more than 130 international monitors, mostly from the European Union, satisfying a longstanding demand of the opponents of President Nicolás Maduro. It will mark the first time in four years the main opposition parties will participate in an election, a decision that came amid now-suspended negotiations between the ruling party and adversaries.
More than 21 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote in over 3,000 contests, including for 23 governors and 335 mayors positions. More than 70,000 candidates entered the races.
Maduro is not on the ballot. His term ends in 2025. But what is at stake is the legitimacy of the National Electoral Council, which has often been accused of setting conditions favorable of Maduro’s allies after years marked by their decisions to disqualify parties and some of the most popular opposition candidates.
