Electoral official: "Changes in voting centers are irregular"

President of the Political Participation and Financing Committee of the National Electoral Council (CNE) Vicente Díaz said on Thursday that the recent change of polling centers for six candidates for governor's offices, who are nominated by ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), is "absolutely irregular."

Díaz stated that such situation is "part of the obstacles the democratic society must surmount so as to restore the balance of powers that is pivotal for the existence of the republic."

An audit of the voting rolls to be used in the gubernatorial election next December 16 revealed that candidates Aristóbulo Istúriz, José Gregorio Vielma Mora, Yelitze Santaella, Tareck El Aissami, Erika Farías and Ramón Rodríguez Chacín registered to vote in voting locations different from the ones they had in October 7 presidential election. The change came despite the fact that the official period set to modify the register of voters of the National Electoral Council (CNE) in this electoral year expired last April 15.

Díaz claimed there is no excuse for the decision made by the CNE Civil and Electoral Register Committee.

Although Venezuelan daily newspaper El Universal has requested authorities to provide information on this issue, an official statement has not been given issued.

emartinez@eluniversal.com

Translated by Jhean Cabrera