A statement made by the opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado has shaken up Venezuela following the recent presidential election. Machado announced that her coalition had gathered more than two-thirds of vote tally sheets from polling centers nationwide, indicating that President Nicolás Maduro had lost his reelection bid.
The tally sheets, known as actas, are considered crucial evidence of election results in Venezuela. Opposition members worked tirelessly to collect as many of these sheets as possible to challenge the expected announcement by electoral authorities.
Months of preparation and the dedication of thousands of volunteers were instrumental in this effort. Their actions led to global condemnation of Maduro and the National Electoral Council, sparking outrage among Venezuelans already frustrated with the country's economic crisis.
Volunteer Efforts
Tens of thousands of volunteers underwent training workshops across the country to prepare for Election Day. Despite facing obstacles from government officials, these volunteers remained steadfast in their mission to obtain the tally sheets before results were transmitted to the council.
The volunteers were equipped with a custom app to report irregularities at voting centers and were trained to scan QR codes on the tally sheets for immediate access to voting results.
The 'Chorizo'
Venezuela has used electronic voting machines for years, with the machines printing out tally sheets after polls close. These sheets display vote totals by candidate, QR codes, and signatures of party representatives and poll workers.
The opposition's success in obtaining over 80% of the tally sheets allowed them to challenge the official results reported by the National Electoral Council.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite the opposition's efforts, the government has disputed the results, leading to calls for transparency from electoral experts and foreign governments. International observers have raised concerns about the validity of the announced outcome.
The U.S. government, among others, has questioned the electoral process in Venezuela and congratulated the opposition coalition on their efforts to challenge the results.
In the midst of ongoing tensions and accusations, the Venezuelan people await further developments in this contested election.
