Democracy in Venezuela works

In a few short weeks, the people of Venezuela will go to the polls. 167 seats in our unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, are being contested. Like mid-term elections in the United States, there will be changes in the makeup of the legislative body, but the executive will remain the same. 

Recently, there has been much misinformation about the Venezuelan electoral process. Critics say that Venezuela has not taken the necessary steps to ensure that elections are free and fair. In fact, the integrity of Venezuela’s elections is inherent to its constitutional government. Allow me to explain. 

{mosads}When Venezuela’s Constitution was ratified in 1999, it created four branches of government. Like the United States, we have executive, legislative and judicial branches. The fourth and co-equal branch is the electoral branch, known as the National Electoral Council (CNE). The CNE is a non-partisan government body that exists both to ensure fair elections and expand electoral access to all Venezuelans.  

Most notably, the election system installed by the CNE is fully automated and auditable. The country’s polling places use electronic machines for voting, while separate machines verify and validate votes. The system confirms voters’ identities through the use of fingerprints and ID cards. After selecting their candidates, voters receive electronically issued voting receipts and place them in in sealed boxes. 21 different audits are performed before, during and after elections to ensure there is no fraud.  

It was very validating that, in 2012, former President Jimmy Carter, who has monitored dozens of elections, described Venezuela’s election process as the “best in the world.” 

In addition to the CNE’s constant vigilance, my government has invited experts from UNASUR, the Union of South American Nations, and CEELA, the Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America, to track the elections. These accompaniment missions will be free to move around the country as well as contact, interview and meet with political actors, national authorities, leaders of party organizations, candidates and citizens. Experts will also be able to witness the installing of polling stations, the ballot counting system, the transmission of results, the appeal process and the announcement of results.  

Former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, a champion of democracy in our region, will lead the UNASUR accompaniment mission. His team’s work will further guarantee the credibility of the upcoming elections. These monitors are impartial; they will neither favor the sitting government nor the various opposition parties. In such a highly charged election, this is critical.  

We are very proud of the fact that over the past 15 years, the CNE has dramatically expanded voter access. Turnout for presidential elections has grown 25 percent, the number of registered voters has nearly doubled, and 97 percent of citizens of voting age are registered to vote. The number of voting centers nationwide has grown from 8,278 in 2000 to 14,515 in 2015. Further, the number of polling booths has nearly quadrupled, growing from 10,546 in 2002 to 40,601 in 2015. As a result, more Venezuelans can and do vote now than ever before. 

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the PetroCaribe program, which provides heavily discounted oil to, and builds power plants in, 19 states in Latin America and the Caribbean. The program allows these countries to devote funds to public projects that would otherwise have been needed to pay for oil. As attested to in a recent meeting of the Organization of American States, PetroCaribe directly contributes to the growth and stability of Latin America, including positive social and economic justice in the region.  

On Dec. 6, Venezuelans of all political preferences will make their voices heard at the ballot box. Of course, my government hopes that they re-elect the party that has fostered positive social change in the region. What Venezuelans know, and what the world will see, is that democracy is alive and well in Venezuela.

Arvelaiz is chargé d’affairs at the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.