Independent experts affirm the legitimacy of tally sheets presented by Venezuela’s opposition as evidence of Nicolás Maduro’s defeat in the presidential election. The Carter Center confirmed that the electronic voting system functioned properly, and the opposition successfully gathered data from a substantial number of voting machines despite government claims of victory. Transparency in the electoral process has been urged by the Organization of American States and several governments.
A panel of independent election experts has confirmed the authenticity of tallies presented by the Venezuelan opposition, asserting that these records prove Nicolás Maduro’s loss in the recent presidential election. This confirmation was made during a session with the Organization of American States (OAS), following the controversial July 28 election. The Carter Center, based in the United States, which observed the election, expressed that the electronic voting system was functional and indicated that key stakeholders, including the ruling party, are aware of the actual election results. Despite claims from governmental electoral authorities endorsing Maduro’s victory shortly after polls concluded, the ruling party failed to provide breakdowns of results from individual voting machines, citing a hacking incident as the cause for their lack of transparency. Nevertheless, the opposition managed to gather and publicly share tally sheets from over 80% of the voting machines. The dispute revolves around these tally sheets, known locally as actas, which are regarded as definitive evidence of election outcomes in Venezuela. The Carter Center’s representative, Jennie Lincoln, confirmed that the voting system provides a paper trail corroborating what the electronic systems report. This evidence was compiled not only by opposition poll watchers but also by representatives from the ruling party, who possess access to the same data. Although Lincoln refrained from officially declaring an election result, she underscored that the role of observers is distinct from that of the electoral authorities. The Carter Center has recently received tally sheets by international mail, though the source of these records remains unspecified. In light of the ongoing electoral dispute, several nations have urged Venezuelan electoral authorities to release detailed voting data to ensure greater transparency. The session conducted by the OAS was specifically requested by member states including Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, the United States, Guatemala, Guyana, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.
The article discusses the aftermath of the Venezuelan presidential election held on July 28, where controversy surrounded the results announced by the ruling party, which declared Nicolás Maduro the winner. The election has faced scrutiny due to the ruling authorities’ inability to present detailed voting machine results and allegations of a hacked electoral website. In contrast, the opposition has assembled evidence through tally sheets from a significant portion of voting machines, leading to calls for transparency from international bodies and several member states of the OAS.
In conclusion, the validation of the opposition’s tally sheets by independent election experts has intensified scrutiny regarding the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro’s re-election in Venezuela. The findings emphasize the critical need for electoral transparency and the rightful role of observers in assessing election integrity. Ongoing international pressure highlights the demand for the Venezuelan government to disclose comprehensive voting data, which may shape future political developments in the region.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
