54% of Venezuelan ballot boxes will be opened to backup electronic results

More than half of the ballot boxes containing the physical votes of the Referendum Sunday December 2nd will be opened to verify the electoral process, announced Supplemental Rector of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Humberto Castillo, during a special broadcast on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). 

According to Castillo "what used to be a black box is now a transparent box since 54% of the ballot boxes will be open." He stated that the results will reflect the will of the people. 

Nearly 100,000 witnesses of both tendencies will participate in the referendum observing the process, reported the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN). 

Castillo indicated that the mechanisms of guarantee applied to this election are above international standards, and he expressed that the horseshoe shape of the polling station will facilitate voting: "We have increased the number of centers and the process will be rapid, efficient and will move along quickly.” 

He warned that any accusation of fraud "will clash with reality and will go nowhere. It is political rhetoric and will have no support in the majority of the country."

3,000 national and international journalists accredited

A total of 3,000 national and international journalists were accredited by the National Electoral Council (CNE) to cover the constitutional reform referendum taking place Sunday, December 2nd according to CNE Rector Germán Yépez, who also mentioned the participation of national and international observers.

Translated by Dawn Gable