An elder woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Valencia, Venezuela, on Nov. 23, 2008. Almost 17 million Venezuelans were registered to pick out 22 governors, 328 mayors and 233 local legislators, while about 130 foreign observers monitored the process of the voting on Sunday.(Xinhua Photo)The voting centers in Venezuela extended the closing time for polls on Sunday to accommodate a huge voter turnout in the country's municipal and regional elections.
The voting hours, which started at 06:00 local time (1030 GMT), were scheduled to close at 16:00 local time (2030 GMT). However, the closing time was extended as there were still lots of people waiting in line.
"Still, there are people voting," President of the Electoral National Council (CNE) Tibisay Lucena told the press.
"The process will be closed when the last elector waiting in line casts the ballot. The right to vote is sacred," Lucena added.
However, the extension of polling hours met with strong criticism from some opposition leaders.
Ismael Garcia, leader of the opposition For the Social Democracy (Podemos), and Henry Ramos Allup, leader of the Democratic Actions (AD), said the extension of voting hours constituted a violation of the electoral laws.
Leaders of the opposition parties A New Time (UNT), Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee (COPEI) and Justice First (PJ) also joined the condemnation of the hour extension.
While rejecting the condemnation, Lucena said, "We do not accept pressures of any kind."
The CNE is expected to announce the preliminary results late Sunday.
Almost 17 million Venezuelans were registered Sunday to pick out 22 governors, 328 mayors and 233 local legislators, while about 130 foreign observers monitored the process.
The election results will also be an indicator of Chavez's popularity. Chavez tries to convince the electors to support a constitutional reform to allow him to be re-elected in 2012.
Venezuelans wait to vote outside a polling station in Valencia, Venezuela, on Nov. 23, 2008. Almost 17 million Venezuelans were registered to pick out 22 governors, 328 mayors and 233 local legislators, while about 130 foreign observers monitored the process of the voting on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)Source: Xinhua
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