Carter Center Validates Opposition’s Tally Sheets in Venezuelan Election Dispute
Independent election experts from the Carter Center have legitimized tally sheets presented by the Venezuelan opposition as evidence of President Nicolás Maduro’s loss in the July presidential election, raising questions about the transparency and validity of the electoral process.
An independent group of electoral experts, specifically from the Carter Center, has affirmed the legitimacy of the tally sheets provided by the Venezuelan opposition, asserting that these documents serve as evidence of President Nicolás Maduro’s electoral defeat. During a meeting of the Organization of American States, which addressed the contentious outcome of the July presidential election in Venezuela, the expert highlighted the effectiveness of the electronic voting system and stated that all involved parties are aware of the truth behind the election’s results. The aforementioned panel was one of two independent groups invited by the Venezuelan government to observe the election held on July 28. While the ruling authorities claimed Maduro won without furnishing supporting evidence, the legitimacy of the election results has been called into question due to the lack of detailed disclosures about the voting outcomes. The crux of the dispute revolves around thousands of tally sheets, known locally as actas, which are considered the definitive proof of election results in Venezuela. Each of the 30,000 electronic voting machines utilized in the election produced multiple copies of these sheets, which representatives from participating political parties are entitled to collect when votes are transmitted to the National Electoral Council. In an abrupt announcement mere hours following the closure of polling stations, the electoral authorities, loyal to Maduro, declared him the victor but failed to release detailed machine-specific results, attributing this lapse to alleged hacking of their website. Conversely, the main opposition coalition successfully obtained tally sheets from over 80% of the voting machines and made this information publicly available online. In retaliation, the government characterized these records as fraudulent and initiated an investigation against opposition figures, including Edmundo González, the coalition’s candidate. Jennie Lincoln, the head of the Carter Center’s mission, elaborated to diplomats on the findings, stating, “The voting system is electronic, but it offers a paper trail – proof of what the electronic machine reports – and that is what was collected by tens of thousands of poll watchers, not just from the opposition, but also from the government party, the PSUV, that also has the same information.” Nevertheless, Lincoln refrained from declaring Gonzalez the victor, emphasizing that electoral declarations are solely the prerogative of the official electoral authorities. The Carter Center recently received the examined tally sheets via international mail, although the source of these records was not disclosed. In light of these developments, numerous governments and the Organization of American States have pressed Venezuela’s electoral authorities to release comprehensive voting data. The session was called upon by nations including Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, the United States, Guatemala, Guyana, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador.
The Venezuelan presidential election, which took place on July 28, has been marred by allegations of fraud and a lack of transparency. The opposition claims that the ruling party, led by Nicolás Maduro, manipulated the electoral process, while the government’s assertions of victory remain unsubstantiated by publicly accessible, detailed results. The use of electronic voting systems and accompanying paper trails is central to the controversy, as both sides possess their own data obtained from tally sheets generated during the election. The involvement of independent observers from the Carter Center and other international entities underscores the significance of validating election outcomes in countries facing political turmoil.
In conclusion, the affirmation of the tally sheets by independent electoral experts from the Carter Center highlights the ongoing disputes surrounding the legitimacy of the Venezuelan presidential election results. With assertions that oppose the ruling party’s claims of victory, the involvement of the Organization of American States calls attention to the pressing need for transparency in electoral processes worldwide. The voices of independent observers play a crucial role in restoring faith in electoral integrity, especially in contentious political environments.
Original Source: apnews.com
