Smartmatic, an electronic voting firm, purportedly withdrew from Venezuelan electoral processes in 2017 following fraud allegations. However, investigations reveal its software was used in subsequent elections, with efforts made to conceal its involvement. Smartmatic initially denied software use in these elections but later changed its position when confronted with documentation. The situation raises concerns regarding electoral integrity and government transparency in Venezuela.
Smartmatic, an electronic voting firm, publicly severed ties with Venezuela in 2017, criticizing the country’s socialist government following allegations of election fraud. Nevertheless, investigations conducted by the Miami Herald revealed that Smartmatic’s software continued to be utilized in three elections in Venezuela post-exit, including the municipal elections of December 2017 and the contentious presidential election of May 2018. Sources associated with Venezuela’s National Electoral Council disclosed to the Herald that to obscure Smartmatic’s involvement, the Venezuelan electoral officials engaged a third-party company, Ex-Cle, despite Smartmatic providing the necessary technical assistance and software setup through licensed agreements. Documentation indicates that Smartmatic’s software managers were involved in the installation processes and audits for these elections. Before their exit, Smartmatic had openly condemned the electoral processes in Venezuela, and their CEO articulated concerns regarding the integrity of the 2017 Constituent Assembly election, asserting substantial discrepancies in voter turnout reports. Following the exit, Smartmatic maintained that it had ceased operations within the Venezuelan electoral framework but later acknowledged, when confronted with evidence, that its software had indeed been deployed during the elections held in late 2017 and 2018. The company asserted, however, that any software utilized should not be considered authentic as they were not part of the operational processes following their withdrawal. Critically, the Venezuelan opposition, backed internationally, has continuously denounced the integrity of both the elections conducted during this period and the regime’s broader constitutional legitimacy. The implications of Smartmatic’s involvement and the subsequent revelations raise significant questions about electoral integrity in Venezuela and the broader geopolitical dynamics affecting the nation’s governance.
Smartmatic, founded by Venezuelans in 2000, had gained prominence when it was chosen to modernize Venezuela’s voting technology by the government of Hugo Chavez. Following direct allegations of electoral fraud in the 2017 National Constituent Assembly elections, Smartmatic distanced itself from Venezuela. The investigation delves into the complexities of the relationship between Smartmatic and Venezuela’s National Electoral Council after the company’s official withdrawal, specifically regarding the continued use of its software in subsequent elections. This revelation contradicts Smartmatic’s public statements and calls into question the integrity of the electoral processes in Venezuela, amid international criticisms and sanctions against the Maduro government.
In conclusion, the persistent use of Smartmatic’s software in Venezuelan elections after the company’s announced withdrawal raises critical issues surrounding electoral integrity and transparency. The actions of Venezuelan officials to engage in subterfuge to conceal Smartmatic’s role, combined with the continuing criticisms from the opposition and international community, underscore a fraught political landscape. This case epitomizes the challenges of ensuring free and fair elections in environments marked by manipulation and coercive governance.
Original Source: www.miamiherald.com
