Venezuela Election Crisis Key Issues.

News and Updates about who won the election.

Understanding that to be happy, mentally at ease, earn enough to improve finances, and enjoy a good quality of life, people need freedom, stability, and legal security, we are pausing our content to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people. We’ll explain the current situation and main points of Venezuela election crisis Key issues following the recent elections on July 28 of this year.

Key Background

The current leftist government is running in this election after being in power for 25 consecutive years. Nicolas Maduro, the current president, has already served 2 six-year terms, totaling 12 years in office so far. The voting system is through fingerprint-enabled machines, with 2 verification systems for ballots (designed and initially purchased by the current government and used in Venezuela for over 20 years), which theoretically makes them tamper-proof.

The current government has access to all state resources, including basic industries, key raw materials, and all resources derived from these materials, primarily oil and gold. It also has absolute control over important autonomous institutions such as: the Supreme Court (which administers and enforces national laws), the Armed Forces (responsible for national security and managing military supplies), and the National Electoral Council (CNE), which handles election planning and execution for key public offices.

The current opposition, a right-wing group, has been reshaped over these 25 years due to several factors, including the disintegration of major opposition parties, lack of unity among them, poor connection with the Venezuelan people, and some leaders aligning with the current government for economic reasons.

In response to this situation, a new opposition figure emerged and gradually gained prominence in politics by standing firm against threats and refusing to negotiate with the government. This leader is Maria Corina Machado, who is currently barred from running for president by the current government for 15 years.

Due to this situation and the inability to register as a candidate or political party, Maria Corina Machado had to form an alliance with the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) party, led by Edmundo Gonzalez.

The Events of July 28

The presidential election for a new 6-year term was scheduled for July 28, a date chosen by the government after moving the election up from its usual December timing. The voting hours were set from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., unless there were still voters in line.

Important Data:

“APPENDIX A” RESULTS PROVIDED BY THE OPPOSITION

INFORMATION PRESENT ON THE WEBSITE: resultsconvzla.com

“ANNEX B” RESULTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

At 6:00 p.m., if there are no more voters waiting, the polling center closes and the process of tallying and verifying the ballots begins. This stage is considered one of the most crucial for ensuring transparency and security in the election process, as all participants (candidates, poll workers, and voters) agree. Here’s a detailed explanation of how it works:

1. Generating Ballots: After voting ends, ballots are printed from the voting machines, which record the results at each polling center through the following mechanisms:

QR Code: Each ballot includes a QR code that can be scanned to verify the information.

Digital Signature: Ballots are digitally signed to ensure they haven’t been altered since they were issued.

Unique Serial Number: Each ballot has a unique serial number to track its origin and authenticity.

2. Signing and Sealing: Ballots are signed and sealed by the election table members (president, secretary, and witnesses). They can issue and receive printed copies, signed and sealed by each member, all identified with QR codes just like the original, confirming that the data is correct and reflects the voters’ decisions.

3. Transmission and Audit: Ballots are sent electronically to the National Electoral Council (CNE). Since the system is automated, the transmission process should take no more than 2 hours once started. The CNE then conducts an audit to ensure the data matches the official results.

4. Comparison with Official Results: Political parties and observers can compare the ballots with the results released by the CNE. Any discrepancies are investigated and resolved.

5. Citizen Audit: Citizen participation in reviewing the ballots is encouraged. Citizens can access copies of the ballots to compare them with the official results.

In summary, the verification process involves several layers of control and security to ensure the integrity of the election.

Now, at each polling center in Venezuela, there are generally two witnesses appointed by the major political parties (with more representing other parties if necessary). These witnesses are present throughout the voting process to ensure everything is done correctly.

So, what went wrong? Why did this electoral crisis arise?

Here are the main points raised by the CNE:

1. Cyber Attack:

As an automated system, after a thorough verification of the received data, the CNE should have been ready between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to release the first report with 80% to 90% of the ballots, showing a clear trend in the results. However, the expected first report was released after 1:00 a.m. on Monday, July 30. Elvis Amoroso, the head of the country’s top electoral body, stated that the delay was due to a cyber attack from Macedonia, allegedly orchestrated by Lester Toledo, Leopoldo Lopez, and Maria Corina Machado.

Image courtesy of Telesur

2. Normal Closing Procedures:

After 6:00 p.m., the closing time for most polling centers, the CNE did not report anything for up to 7 hours (when the results were published). During this critical time, when data transmission was underway, the government’s main spokespeople claimed everything was proceeding normally, despite the severity of the alleged cyber attack.

3. First Results Bulletin:

The results were announced only through a statement by the CNE’s main official, Elvis Amoroso, as shown in “Appendix B: Information Provided by the Government.” Unlike past elections and what the regulations require, there was no detailed breakdown of the received ballots by state and polling station. Additionally, the CNE’s website: www.cne.gob.ve, remains down, as shown in the attached image.

4. Rushed Proclamation:

Nicolás Maduro was declared President for the new term less than 24 hours after the first bulletin, which showed 81.5% of the results, without the chance to verify this single report or the accuracy of the received ballots. Proper verification of these results is a fundamental requirement.

5. Digitized Ballots Presented to the World:

Opposition leader María Corina Machado, meeting the required standards, collected 73.3% of the ballots within the first 24 hours after the election, with the support of polling station witnesses and observers. These were organized, digitized, backed up, and presented to the public on the websites:

resultadosconvzla.com / resultadospresidencialesvenezuela2024.com,

where 81.2% of the digitized ballots are now displayed.

6. Complicity of Key Peacekeepers:

Given the CNE’s partiality and the silence of the Supreme Court, the main guarantor of the country’s laws, the main role falls to the Armed Forces of the Republic. As the direct overseers of the voting process, they should ensure that the people’s voice is respected and the results from July 28 are honored. The major issue is that the top military command, like the CNE, is aligned with the current government, which is unwilling to show support for the ballots from which the results were published.

7. Key Summary

If the current government has full access to resources and is responsible for transporting all electoral materials, both physical and digital, across all states, then why, 36 hours after the official results bulletin showing a supposed 81.5%, has the CNE not been able to present the requested ballots? The CNE members at each polling center nationwide should have the original physical ballots to present to the country and address the demands of Venezuelans.

Why are the Armed Forces, aware of the electoral regulations and the Venezuelan Constitution, staying silent and not demanding that the ballots be reviewed as a true reflection of the Venezuelan people’s will, overriding any political leadership clinging to power without popular support and visible proof of their victory?

8. Fundamental Requirement

Given the internal information blockade, the repression of major opposition leaders, and the indiscriminate abuse of power by the government, gaining international support is crucial. It’s important to amplify voices and widely share this information to provide help to most Venezuelans, who are overwhelmed and exposed to repression, persecution, and imprisonment of polling station witnesses and protesters demanding their votes. Even worse, they face the prospect of 6 more years under a government that insists on declaring victory without showing the ONE, MAIN, AND ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT to prove its legitimacy: the voting ballots!

So, what’s the latest News and Updates about who won the election?

To put it simply, it’s like the story of David and Goliath. A single opposition leader, backed only by popular support and her commitment to change, is up against the full force of the current government, which controls all state resources and institutions, concentrating power and ignoring the popular mandate. If the voices of millions who spoke up on July 28 are only being heard through Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez, who are presenting the evidence from the scanned ballots, while the government remains evasive, then we can say without hesitation that the path to democracy and restoring institutional integrity in Venezuela is led by Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez.

The people are left to ask if there is an international organization whose members truly feel the urgent need to provide real help to the Venezuelan people in their fight for democracy. They need support to prove their case against the dictatorship imposed by force. This organization should act without bureaucracy and disregard the apathy of other institutions. Venezuelans shouldn’t have to watch as a small group takes over their country and mocks the international community without any scruples. Hopefully, there will be an answer to this question.

some of the videos courageously uploaded to the social networks by neighbors who have lost their fear of telling the truth: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-FtTYRR5ui/?igsh=eXlnNWIzdDlnbTJ3