BTN News: Today is a very important day for over 21 million people in Venezuela. They are heading to the polls to choose their next president. The voting started just after 6:00 AM local time (10:00 GMT) this Sunday. It is a big day for the country. The National Electoral Council (CNE) said that many of the 15,767 voting centers opened on time. We are waiting for the first reports from the electoral authorities. These reports will tell us how many centers are open and if there have been any problems so far.
People all over Venezuela have shared on social media that there are long lines outside voting centers. Some people have been waiting since last night. This shows how important this election is to many citizens. They are eager to cast their votes in this fully digital voting process. There are ten candidates in this election.
The current president, Nicolás Maduro, is one of these candidates. He wants to be re-elected for a third six-year term. His campaign is being watched closely because the country is facing many economic and political issues. Another important candidate is Edmundo González Urrutia. He represents the main opposition group, the Democratic Unity Platform (PUD). This group is united for a presidential election for the first time since 2013, the year Maduro first became president.
There are other candidates too. They include evangelical pastor Javier Bertucci, comedian BenjamÃn Rausseo, former mayors Daniel Ceballos and Claudio FermÃn, former councilman Antonio Ecarri, and current deputies Luis Eduardo MartÃnez and José Brito. Enrique Márquez, who is a former electoral official and a significant anti-Chavista figure, is also running.
To keep the voting process safe and fair, more than 388,000 members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and various state security agencies are working across the country. Also, the government has temporarily closed the borders with Colombia and Brazil to prevent people and vehicles from moving across the borders today. This step shows how serious they are about keeping order during this important day.
The voting centers will stay open for 12 hours without stopping. They will stay open longer if there are still people in line to vote. This ensures that every eligible voter has a chance to participate in this crucial election.
Today is a big day for Venezuela. The people are showing their commitment to democracy despite many challenges. As the day goes on, everyone is watching closely to see the results. These results will shape the future of this strong South American nation.
