When will Plan República officials be deployed for the presidential elections?

• The military deployment aims to safeguard the security of citizens, voting centers and electoral material for the presidential elections | Photo: X/@1ERAD412

On July 22, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) will activate the Republic Plan in the country on Wednesday, July 24, to guarantee security during the presidential elections.

The minister announced the information after holding a meeting with representatives of the Carter Center who will be electoral observers on July 28.

Padrino López said that the electoral material has already been distributed in all the states of Venezuela, so that it can be delivered by the military of the FANB to the respective voting centers.

Deployment in Anzoátegui

The head of the 51st Comprehensive Defense Operational Zone (Zodi-51), Omar Pérez La Rosa, explained that a total of 15,290 officials from the Plan República will be deployed in the state of Anzoátegui.

In the state, 713 voting centers were enabled, with around 1,555 tables for a total of 1,179,173 voters.

The purpose of the Republic Plan is to deploy thousands of military personnel throughout the country to safeguard the security of citizens, voting centers and electoral materials.

Photo: Archive/Courtesy

Restrictions due to the presidential elections

Padrino López and the Minister of Interior and Justice, Remigio Ceballos, issued a joint resolution on July 21 on the entry into force and duration of the Prohibition in Venezuela in view of the presidential elections on July 28, 2024.

The decree also establishes restrictions on the carrying of weapons and the closure of Venezuelan borders during the voting process.

Article 3 of the Joint Resolution indicates that the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages throughout the national territory will be suspended from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 26 until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2024. Article 130 of the Organic Law of Electoral Processes supports this decree.

Regarding the suspension of the carrying of firearms and knives, this will continue during the hours mentioned above.

Another restriction is that from July 26 to 29, public demonstrations, gatherings of people and any other similar act that may disrupt or affect the electoral process are prohibited.

The movement, transportation, employment or operation of heavy machinery is also prohibited throughout the national territory, such as: bulldozers, backhoes, tractors, wrecking balls, motor scrapers, excavator shovels, draglines, skid steers, front loaders, trenchers, hydromills, mechanical hammers, pallets, concrete mixers, concrete, rock trucks, dump trucks, bulldozers, crowbars, dredgers, among others.

Photo: EFE

What do you need to vote in the July 28 elections?

The only document needed to vote It is your identity card, it does not matter if it is expired. When you arrive at the voting center, you must look for your ID number on the list located at the entrance to find out which table you will be assigned to. You can rely on an official from the CNE or the Plan República for this task.

Political proselytism is prohibited inside the voting centers and within the 200-meter security perimeter around them, so it is recommended to refrain from wearing clothing or accessories that make direct reference to a candidate or political tendency, or that could be interpreted as such by the Plan República.

The voting process usually follows the traditional “horseshoe” used by the CNE in previous electoral processes. The first step will be to deliver the laminated ballot at the first station so that the table member can verify the data in the Integrated Authentication System and proceed to unlock the voting machine.

The voting machine consists of a touch screen on which the ballot will appear with the offer of candidates. To choose, press the card of the candidate of your choice, which will take you to a confirmation screen where you will see the chosen card in more detail. If you are sure of your decision, press the “Vote” button in the centre of the screen and wait for the ballot to be printed.

It is important that you do not abruptly remove the ballot and check that all the details (name of the candidate and initials of the candidate organization) match your selection. Once this has been done, the paper must be carefully folded and placed in the ballot box provided at the next station. Finally, you go to the last station to sign and put your fingerprint in the voting booklet, right where your name is indicated. There you will be given your ballot back and you must leave the room.

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