Gov't candidates for governors change their voting centers untimely

According to data from the register of voters who will cast their ballots in the upcoming December 16 gubernatorial election in Venezuela, six pro-government candidates for governor, who are members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), have registered to vote in voting locations different from the ones they had in October 7. 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.

These six pro-government candidates, namely Aristóbulo Istúriz, José Gregorio Vielma Mora, Yelitze Santaella, Tareck El Aissami, Erika Farías and Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, had been criticized because they did not vote in the states where they expect to be governors. After the untimely change, the candidates are now registered to cast their ballots in the states where they are running for governors.

So far, CNE directors have not issued any official statement on the matter. However, according to technicians of the National Electoral Board (JNE), the changes in these candidates' voting locations were due to a mistake when the voters' lists for gubernatorial elections were issued.

Under electoral regulations, candidates for governor's offices are not required to live or to vote in the state where they expect to become governors. They are not required to have a specific period of residence in the state either.