Independent election experts from the Carter Center confirmed the authenticity of tally sheets provided by Venezuela’s opposition, indicating that they offer valid evidence of President Nicolás Maduro’s defeat in the recent presidential elections. The ruling party’s failure to release detailed results has exacerbated tensions surrounding electoral integrity in the nation.
An independent team of electoral experts corroborated the validity of the vote tally sheets presented by Venezuela’s opposition, asserting they serve as evidence of President Nicolás Maduro’s defeat in the July elections. The team, affiliated with the U.S.-based Carter Center, addressed the Organization of American States (OAS) to confirm that the electronic voting system operated effectively and that all parties involved are aware of the actual results. During a recent session convened by OAS members to discuss the election controversy, which erupted following claims of Maduro’s victory, the Carter Center’s representative, Jennie Lincoln, presented the voting tally sheets to diplomats, stating that they represent a reliable paper trail linked to the electronic voting machines used. Despite this, Lincoln refrained from officially announcing a winner, emphasizing that such declarations fall within the jurisdiction of electoral authorities. The opposition coalition succeeded in acquiring over 80% of the tally sheets from voting machines, while the government—having declared Maduro as the winner shortly after the polls closed—failed to provide the detailed results, citing a website hack as the reason. Subsequently, the government launched an investigation into opposition members, questioning the authenticity of the provided records. The international community, including various governments and the OAS, continues to urge Venezuela’s election authorities to disclose comprehensive voting data for greater transparency.
The controversy surrounding Venezuela’s presidential elections arises from the various claims made by both the ruling party and the opposition regarding the legitimacy of the results and the voting process. The July elections were marked by allegations of fraud and non-transparency as the ruling authorities declared President Maduro the victor without disclosing detailed voting information—a departure from past practices. Tally sheets, or actas, are critical in Venezuela as they serve as the definitive evidence of election results. These documents are generated by electronic voting machines and can be collected by representatives of participating parties, but the government has disputed the authenticity of opposition-acquired sheets. The Carter Center’s observation sheds light on the integrity of the voting process, while calls for detailed results persist from the international community.
In summary, the independent verification of Venezuela’s vote tally sheets by the Carter Center has legitimized claims made by the opposition regarding the alleged defeat of President Maduro. The incongruities between the opposition’s findings and the government’s declaration of victory underscore significant concerns about electoral transparency and the legitimacy of the electoral process in Venezuela. Furthermore, the rising international pressure on the Venezuelan authorities to publish comprehensive voting data reflects the urgency of establishing trust in the nation’s electoral system.
Original Source: apnews.com
