Venezuela's Election: Nicolás Maduro on Ballot 13 Times

Photo:AP

The first name you'll likely see on the ballot in Venezuela's upcoming presidential election is Nicolás Maduro, the incumbent seeking reelection. His confident smile, well-combed hair, and slightly squinting eyes will greet voters not just once, but a staggering 13 times, representing various political groups backing his campaign.

Maduro's prominent placement on the ballot is a stark contrast to his nine challengers, including former diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia, who stands as his main competitor. González appears just three times, reflecting a fragmented opposition effort.

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Venezuela faces a crucial electoral test as the nation grapples with economic turmoil. Maduro's policies, initially praised for reducing poverty, are now blamed for an enduring crisis. The election's outcome could either extend Maduro's leadership for another six years or bring significant political change.

Under Venezuelan electoral rules, candidates' photos appear on the ballot as many times as the parties endorsing them. This year’s ballot includes 38 images, each displaying the candidate’s name and party. While voters are familiar with this format, the sheer number of Maduro’s images may cause confusion.

Sonia Guevara, a 38-year-old office worker, expressed her frustration: “I get dizzy when I see Maduro so many times on that card, but I know that the danger is in the candidates who do not represent us.” She highlighted the complexities voters face, especially with opposition candidates like Luis Martínez, who, despite being from the traditionally opposition Democratic Action party, is perceived as an ally of Maduro.

Approximately 17 million voters are eligible in Venezuela, with an additional 4 million Venezuelans registered abroad. However, stringent government requirements mean only about 69,000 expatriates can vote.

Francisco Maldonado, a 50-year-old merchant in Caracas, emphasized the importance of voting carefully: “At this point, I think we all know who we are going to vote for, but more than ever we have to be careful, the same care we have when we use an ATM. We cannot make a mistake when marking.”

Venezuela’s last census in 2011 recorded 27.2 million people, but a decade of political and economic crises has seen over 7.7 million leave the country.

Laura Dib, Venezuela Program Director at WOLA, noted that the ballot’s design favors Maduro: “Even if it’s common that a candidate’s face is repeated on the ballot, being 13 times on it makes Maduro visually the easiest to identify.” She also pointed out that the opposition’s lack of access to official media complicates voter education efforts.

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