Venezuelans vote early in Madrid because “their nerves” don’t let them sleep

Venezuelan voters turned out in droves at the polling station in Madrid / Photo: TalCual

Alejandra was the penultimate Venezuelan who was able to change her voting center to the Madrid Consulate, during the very brief update period that the National Electoral Council (CNE) enabled last April. However, on July 28, she was the first to vote in the Spanish capital: “I came early, because my nerves wouldn’t let me sleep. I’m quite worried, there’s a lot at stake here. I want everything to go well.”

After emigrating five years ago, Alejandra prefers to be Alejandra. Just like that. Without a surname. She fears consequences for making statements to the press. “I was one of the privileged ones who was able to (change my voting center). Many people couldn’t, even though they had the requirements. I am one of the few who were able to register,” she says.

Although Spanish authorities estimate that there are around 68,000 Venezuelans living in Madrid, only 9,092 citizens will be able to vote on the day of July 28. They will do so at the Fernando de los Ríos Cultural Center, the second polling station that brings together the most voters in the world.

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By 5:00 a.m., more than 100 voters were already queuing around the religious center with the intention of voting. The day, which began 40 minutes later than planned, flowed quickly during the morning when the 16 tables that had been installed were set up.

Beware of the oval
In Madrid –as in all the voting centres abroad– voting is done manually. Lía de Fichi, liaison coordinator of the Unitary Platform in the Spanish capital, reminded voters that they must fill in the oval on the ballot. “You have to be careful, mark it very carefully because if the ballot is torn, you have to request a new one. If not, that vote will be invalid,” she explained.

The result of the vote in Madrid, as in the rest of the world, will not be known this Sunday, July 28. It will be on Monday at 9:00 AM when the boxes are opened to count the ballots, explains Fichi. The CNE regulations require waiting for the close of the day in Venezuela, which, in the best of cases, will occur at midnight in Spain due to its six-hour time difference.

The boxes with the voters’ votes will be kept at the voting center. Witnesses from the political parties will sign a document recording the full number of citizens who attended the voting session. On Monday, the votes will be counted to be included in the first bulletin issued by the National Electoral Council.

Madrid / TalCual