A voting machine located at the headquarters of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, shortly before the Parliamentary Elections of December 6, 2020. Photo: Reuters/file photo.
On July 27, Venezuela will experience an unprecedented democratic day for the first time in history. Mayoral and municipal council elections will be held alongside the first National Youth Popular Consultation, an initiative that recognizes young people as protagonists of the country’s communal transformation.
On that day, the 15,731 polling stations will have two clearly differentiated structures. The first station will be dedicated to the municipal elections.
Once they have exercised their right to vote in this first stage, eligible citizens may proceed to a second table, where the Popular Consultation on youth projects will be held. This table is marked with a blue stripe to facilitate voter orientation by age.
This consultation is aimed exclusively at young people between 15 and 35 years of age, who will vote for one of the seven projects selected in community assemblies, part of the Seven Transformations of the Homeland Plan.
These projects are part of the Map of Dreams for each communal territory and were built by organized youth in their communities, according to a press release by the Venezuelan Ministry for Communes.
The projects address key topics including education, culture, health, sports, production, environment,, and technology, aiming to respond to specific regional needs.
Municipal elections
Upon arriving at the polling station, voters will present their ID to the polling station manager. The system operator will verify the voter’s identity through biometric and documentation authentication.
The voting machine will then activate for the voter to select their preferred option. Once the vote is cast, a receipt will print and must be folded and inserted into the corresponding ballot box.
Finally, the voter will sign and place their fingerprint in the voting book to complete the process.
National popular consultation of youth
After the previous stage, young people aged 15 to 35 will proceed to the second polling station. There, they will present their ID to the polling station president, who will manually record their information in the voting book.
The voter will then sign and fingerprint next to their personal information. They will receive an official ballot from the National Electoral Council, on which they must write the number of their chosen project.
Finally, the voter will fold the ballot and place it in the ballot box designated for projects under the Seven Transformations of the Homeland Plan.
This process is easy and straightforward, designed for seamless participation. The entire voting sequence is estimated at one minute per voter.
The National Youth Popular Consultation is not just an electoral mechanism; it is a community planning tool. Selected projects will be integrated into local development plans and financed by the Venezuelan government, ensuring youth involvement in building their future.
This exercise strengthens national sovereignty, consolidates People’s Power, and advances the transition to a Communal State through participatory decision-making. It also progresses social protection by ensuring fundamental rights via democratic planning and collective work.
July 27 will be an opportunity to decide, build, and dream locally. When the people vote and young people propose, paths open toward a more just, participatory, and supportive country.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SA
