Independent election experts have verified tally sheets presented by Venezuela’s opposition as evidence of President Maduro’s electoral defeat. During an OAS session, representatives from the Carter Center confirmed the functionality of the electronic voting system and highlighted the existence of a paper trail obtained by both opposition and ruling party representatives. The controversy surrounding the results follows Maduro’s unsubstantiated claims of victory and the opposition’s successful acquisition of 80% of voting machine tally sheets.
In a significant development regarding the disputed presidential election in Venezuela, independent election experts have validated the tally sheets presented by the opposition, which purportedly demonstrate that President Nicolás Maduro lost the election. This assertion was made during a session with the Organization of American States (OAS) by representatives of the Carter Center, an organization based in the United States that had been invited by the Venezuelan government to observe the election held on July 28. According to Jennie Lincoln, who led the Carter Center’s mission, the electronic voting system employed in the election was functional and produced a verifiable paper trail corroborated by poll watchers from both the ruling party and the opposition. The controversy revolves around the tally sheets, known locally as “actas,” which are essential documents that provide the final vote counts from the election. Each of the 30,000 electronic voting machines utilized in the election generated several copies of these sheets. In contrast, the Venezuelan electoral authorities quickly declared Maduro the winner post-election without breaking down results by voting machine, attributing the lack of detailed data to alleged cyberattacks on their website. Despite these claims, the opposition coalition managed to procure over 80% of the tally sheets, subsequently publishing them online. In response, the government dismissed these records as fabricated and instituted an investigation against opposition members, including the coalition’s candidate Edmundo González. The OAS, supported by several governments in the region, has urged Venezuelan electoral officials to release comprehensive data related to the voting process. During the OAS session, it was clear that the disagreement regarding the legitimacy of the election results remains unresolved, necessitating further scrutiny of the electoral process in Venezuela.
The political landscape in Venezuela has been fraught with contention, particularly surrounding the presidential elections. The election process in July raised significant doubts, with allegations of manipulation and unfair practices. The use of electronic voting systems, while intended to enhance efficiency, has added layers of complexity regarding transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The opposition’s ability to secure and validate tally sheets poses a crucial challenge to the official narrative presented by the Maduro administration and invites international scrutiny regarding the integrity of the election process.
In conclusion, the validation of the opposition’s tally sheets by independent observers introduces significant questions about the legitimacy of President Maduro’s election victory. The conflict over the electoral results underscores the need for transparency and accountability within Venezuela’s electoral framework, drawing attention from regional and international leaders keen on fostering democratic principles in the country.
Original Source: apnews.com
