TeleSUR correspondent Gladys Quesada updates on the regional and legislative elections, as the voting day is about to close. teleSUR
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00:00In Venezuela, regional and legislative elections are underway.
00:04Let's contact our correspondent Gladys Casal with all the latest updates
00:08on this process from the capital, Caracas. Hi, Gladys.
00:12What can you share with us at this hour?
00:16Hi, Ale.
00:20It's so good to see you and to share this screen with you
00:24and also to have the opportunity to tell to your audience what is going on in Venezuela.
00:28So, I have to summarize some information. First of all,
00:32the voting day started normally at 6am
00:36as was scheduled and people were gathering at the polling stations
00:40to go and vote early. First of all, because of the timing.
00:44Second, because it's a customary tradition here in Venezuela to go and vote
00:48really, really early. And also because of the heat of the day.
00:52Let's recall that it is spring towards summer here in Venezuela
00:56so the heat of the summer is very, very much felt by the noon hours.
01:02So, many people came to vote maybe 7, 6am, 8am.
01:08But now, the day has closed. It's coming to an end.
01:12And the National Electoral Council announced that it was extending the voting hours for one more hour.
01:18An hour long extension of the voting time because of the presence of voters in the lines outside of the voting centers.
01:26Here in La Guayra, the state that we have been the whole day covering this election.
01:32Well, La Guayra is a little small state compared to other ones but is densely populated.
01:38So, it means that people were packing the voting centers early in the morning and after the rains in the afternoon.
01:46So, they were slowing down the frequency of the voters coming in.
01:52And now they are just minutes away from closing the voting centers because it's now like 10 minutes prior to 7pm.
02:04So, now the voting centers are closing.
02:06The results are expected by midnight maybe even later because Venezuelans are voting for 24 governors.
02:14And it means that they have to choose and to decide and to count the votes amongst all the electorate and the six candidates.
02:23For example, here in La Guayra, in other states, it's even larger the number of candidates.
02:28So, also they are deciding among the deputies of the National Assembly.
02:32Those are 285 seats and also they have to choose the regional councils of deputies.
02:41So, it means that they have to choose among very public roles and public officers.
02:48So, it is paramount that the count is done precisely and is done with accuracy.
02:53So, the results are expected later and we are going to be covering that also for you and for our audience.
03:01Moreover, the day was very expedited.
03:03The process of voting is very fast and also it is very well prepared in the ways of voting, the methods of voting.
03:12So, even the elderly were saying that they were coming in and voting really, really fast.
03:18Also, this is our festivity.
03:20This is a joyful day for the Venezuelans that have to come here and exercise the right to vote because this ratifies the trust and the confidence of the Venezuelan people in their institutions.
03:31Aside from the violent attempts against them, aside from the sanctions, aside from the blockades and also aside from the media, the international media, smear campaigns against the government and against the institutions.
03:46I have also to say something that I have been stressing the whole day.
03:51This is the first election that is being held in the 24 states of Venezuela because until 2023, there were only 23 states.
04:01Now, we are entering a new era with 24 states because after March 2024, the Guayana Ezequiva region was declared as the 24th state in Venezuela.
04:12And because it's paramount to build the structures there of governance, now they are holding these elections.
04:20So, tomorrow morning, the Guayana Ezequiva is going to rise up and is going to wake up with a governor and legislative councils and the representatives to the National Assembly.
04:32So, it's very important to follow up with this because also Guayana has been issuing threats.
04:38Also, United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada even, they were saying that Venezuela has no right on this election,
04:47that Venezuela is threatening the people there, when really Venezuela is being peaceful and appealing to dialogue and appealing to the Geneva Agreements.
04:57Glad, we need to interrupt our contact because we are going live to Caracas, Venezuela, where the National Electoral Council is offering statements at this hour. Let's listen.
05:10So, the National Electoral Council is once again proud of the active participation of the brave people of Venezuela.
05:18Thank you to all Venezuelans, men and women.
05:23We are listening to the statements of the National Electoral Council, who was offering statements at this hour when the polling stations are closing throughout the territory in this mega election day for Venezuelans.
05:38And with this information, we have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find this and many of the stories on our website at www.telesurenglish.net and join us on our social media.
05:49We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
05:53For Telesur English, I'm Alejandra Garcia. Thank you for watching.