11-23-08, 9:13 am
HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 23 (acn) Nearly 17 million Venezuelans are expected to vote their state and municipal authorities during today’s regional elections in that South American nation.
Since very early hours on Sunday, lines of citizens turned out at voting stations three hours before the electoral process opened at 6:30 am, to elect state governors, mayors and legislators.
Venezuelans will elect 22 governors, 328 mayors, 233 members of legislative councils, 13 councilors to the Caracas Metropolitan District and seven to the Alto Apure Metropolitan Council.
The vote was announced with a sound of reveille and fireworks at 4:00 am in a clouded day that recalls heavy rains over the past 72 hours. However, the citizens did not spared time to turn out at voting stations carrying chairs and umbrellas, in response to a call issued by local authorities, and representatives of different social sectors.
Prensa Latina news agency reported that a large presence of people was observed in several areas in the capital Caracas, including the western and eastern sections of the city, with a prevalence of high and middle class sectors.
Reports from different Venezuelan localities say that calm reins in the country during the vote.
The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tibisay Lucena said on Saturday that the vote results would only be released once such information showed an irrevocable tendency.
Once the first release is issued, the CNE will publish the figures with irrevocable character for all elected posts, said the official who pointed out the will of her institution to defend the integrity of the vote results, PL news reported.
Tibisay Lucena thanked the support and cooperation given by the Plan Republica initiative, which included the mobilization of some 140, 000 members of the military to help in the distribution and security of materials for the vote and guarantee safety and calm in the country.
“The construction of the country we want is a responsibility of all of us, concluded the official.”
Cuban News Agency
