Independent election experts from the Carter Center have confirmed that tally sheets from Venezuela’s opposition indicate President Nicolás Maduro’s defeat in the July presidential election. This assertion comes amid ongoing disputes over the election results, with the opposition accessing data from over 80% of voting machines, while government authorities have refrained from providing detailed information citing hacking issues.
In a significant development regarding the contested presidential election in Venezuela, an independent panel of election experts has validated the tally sheets presented by the opposition, suggesting they provide compelling evidence of President Nicolás Maduro’s loss. During a meeting organized by the Organization of American States (OAS), experts from the U.S.-based Carter Center reported that the electronic voting system employed in the election functioned correctly and asserted, “the ruling party as well as other stakeholders know the truth.” This conclusion came after the electoral authorities previously declared Maduro the victor based solely on the results without providing any detailed evidence, citing website hacking as the reason for the lack of data disclosure. Following the July election, the primary opposition coalition accessed and published online the tally sheets from over 80% of the electronic voting machines used in the polls. In contrast, the ruling party refuted the authenticity of these records and initiated investigations against opposition figures, including Edmundo González, the coalition’s candidate. In response to inquiries from various Latin American nations, the OAS emphasized the need for Venezuela’s electoral authorities to release comprehensive voting information. Jennie Lincoln, leading the Carter Center’s mission, also highlighted the importance of paper trails secured by numerous poll watchers from both major parties as verification of the electronic results. However, Lincoln refrained from declaring the opposition’s candidate as the winner, emphasizing that such determinations lie with the electoral authorities.
The background of this contentious electoral scenario in Venezuela lies in the political upheaval surrounding President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. The July presidential election has been marred by allegations of fraud and the suppression of genuine electoral processes, leading to a persistent discord between the ruling party and the opposition. The use of electronic voting systems was aimed at improving the electoral process; however, the ensuing conflicts regarding the sufficiency and transparency of results have placed significant scrutiny on the electoral authority’s integrity. As both local and international observers monitor the situation, the legitimacy of the electoral outcomes is increasingly brought into question.
In conclusion, the independent assessment by the Carter Center’s election experts offers a pivotal validation of the opposition’s tallies, reinforcing their claims against President Maduro’s declared victory. As calls for transparency and detailed voting data resonate among various governments and organizations, the future of Venezuela’s electoral integrity rests heavily upon the actions of its electoral authorities and their willingness to foster transparency in the electoral process.
Original Source: apnews.com
