Reports of Irregular Polling Station Installments Emerge in Venezuela

Reports have surfaced on social media that the construction of polling stations by Venezuela's electoral authority, the National Electoral Council (CNE), including the presence of those not legally trained for the installation. Additionally, opposition observers reported being prevented from entering the polling stations..Polling stations were originally scheduled to be installed at 8:00 a.m. local time; however, some stations were installed hours earlier while under the oversight of the Venezuelan military. Both journalists and opposition voters have reported opposition observers were not allowed to oversee the installation of polling stations due to not being registered under the CNE, despite holding proper credentials which declared them as election witnesses. Meanwhile, those loyal to the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) were allowed to enter, with reports of scuffles..According to journalist Eugenio Martínez, during the installation of polling station those installing the stations began using untrained individuals due to the early construction..One Venezuelan stated on X that when he arrived an hour prior to the official opening of polling stations, he requested the credentials of those present. "I requested to verify the presence of the main personnel before me, and I was denied information with hostile treatment from Plan República [the military personnel who oversee the installation of polling stations], the president, and militiamen.".In response to allegations that those installing polling stations are untrained, the main rector of the CNE, Aime Nogal, stated that only 2.96 percent of polling station staff are "yet to be certified".Two other instances of polling station staff refusing entry for opposition observers were recorded in Libertador, Mérida state and Valencia. In Libertador, one Venezuelan claimed that three observers were not allowed to witness the construction of a polling station in the municipality due to their affiliation with parties other than PSUV. In Valencia, the coordinator of the CNE for the polling site refused a number of observers access to the voting site, refusing to open a gate leading to the school that was being used as a polling station..It currently remains unknown if these irregularities are part of an effort by President Nicolas Maduro's regime to interfere with the democratic process of the nation or are isolated instances which those opposed to the reigning president have utilized in order to cast doubts on the election..An Attack Against the Opposition?.The oversight of the installation of polling sites across Venezuela is a vital tactic for the Unitary Platform, Venezuela's leading opposition alliance, who has heavily invested in observers both for the installation and for voting day in an effort to counteract any attempts by members of the Maduro regime to issue fraudulent votes. These observers will likely face increased pressure by both government officials and loyal PSUV voters on election day as previously seen with the opposition's failure to register Corina Yoris, one of the Unitary Platform's presidential hopefuls, in late March. Yoris was prevented from registering her candidacy with the CNE the night before the cutoff and were unable to reach the CNE's office due to demonstrations organized by the PSUV..Maduro's regime has a long history of launching political attacks against members of the opposition and political activists, issuing arrest warrants for a countless amount of those opposed to him. In late March, six members of the political opposition fled to the Argentine Embassy to Venezuela following the issuance of arrest warrants for the group. After their arrival, the six opened an asylum request to Argentina which was quickly accepted. However, Venezuelan authorities began what has been described as a "siege" on the Argentine Embassy, reportedly cutting power and water to the diplomatic mission..The five others consist of Magalli Meda, the campaign manager for Machado; Pedro Urruchurtu, the international coordinator of Vente Venezuela; Humberto Villalobos, an electoral expert; Claudia Macero, who is in charge of the party's communications; and a sixth unnamed person who requested anonymity due to security concerns..The opposition members did not leave the embassy, prompting Venezuela to allow the group to safely depart for Argentina. Despite this, the Venezuelan government swiftly broke its promise, prompting the Argentine government to promise to increase pressure on Maduro's regime. As of this publication, those sheltering in the Argentine Embassy have not been able to escape Venezuela..Also in March, the Venezuelan Intelligence Service, Sebin, arrested Machado's campaign director and regional coordinator, Emill Brandt Ulloa. Just weeks after this arrest, warrants were issued for a number of other key leaders within the opposition party, six of whom fled to the Argentine embassy to apply for political asylum, alleging that the arrest warrants were intended to weaken the party and not for a just cause..On July 17, leader of Vente Venezuela and former presidential candidate, Maria Corina Machado's, head of security was arrested by Venezuelan authorities in what Vente Venezuela claims to have violated "all legal proceedings." Ávila is not the only party member targeted in recent times, with Edmundo Gonzalez's campaign manager in the Monagas state, Angel Aristimuño, arrested on July 13 for unstated reasons..With mere days before one of Venezuela's most historic elections, accusations of fraud and intimidation tactics are sure to arise as the opposition faces off against Maduro and his supporters. As the fight against Maduro intensifies, authorities may ramp up on measures to silence dissenters before they can inspire full-blown protests against Maduro's regime.