Venezuela Elections: Voters Have Mixed Feelings With Hope and Fear Over Election Results

Venezuela is about to decide whether the repressive regime of Nicolas Maduro will go or stay in this month's election. While there is fear he would stay and undermine the Venezuelan election, many are still holding on to hope that he would finally be kicked out of office.

Under Maduro, Venezuela has been spiraling down, with economic woes, sanctions, mass poverty, and people fleeing the country in search of a better life, either in the US or Mexico or nearby Colombia or Brazil.

The dictator is increasingly unpopular, and polls have projected that he would lose in a landslide against former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez... if the elections were not rigged, as his allies control the electoral body. Maduro has been known to rig the elections in his favor. This was evident in the previous election, where he lagged in the polls but somehow still won against Juan Guaido.

According to the New Humanitarian, while Venezuela has one of the most advanced electoral systems in the world, many do not trust it. Despite this, there have been new advancements, from fingerprint readers and also a printout of a voucher for voters to deposit in a box. This would safeguard their ballots even more.

There have also been problems with voter registration, with some citizens having trouble registering, with the CNE, the country's electoral body, failing to set up enough registration points for all voters to be able to update their electoral information.

As for those Venezuelans who fled the regime, many found that they lacked information about the process at their consulates. The country also has strict requirements that make it very difficult for those outside the country to be able to vote.

UN Human Rights Chief Also Doubts Integrity of Venezuela's Election

As the Venezuela elections approach, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is voicing his concerns about the integrity of the results, saying that it would be unlikely to be free and fair because of widespread repression.

"My office continues to receive reports of detentions as election day approaches, including of supporters and members of the opposition. This does not augur well, and I urge a change to such practices," he said in a statement.

He also pointed out that there is an increase in threats, harassment, and assaults against civil society actors, journalists, unionists, and other voices considered critical of Maduro. These include "arrests and prosecutions, and 38 cases of arbitrary detention."

Venezuela Opposition Holds Massive Rally Ahead of the Election

Meanwhile, Venezuelans are chanting "Freedom!" as they attended a massive rally for the opposition in the western Venezuelan state of Barinas, the home state of Hugo Chavez, which the Maduro regime holds in high regard.

Many have shown up to support Edmundo Gonzalez as they expressed their hope that they would be able to finally be able to kick out the regime that has led to Venezuela spiraling out of control.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: #2024WCA: Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González on Venezuelan Elections - Americas Society/Council of the Americas