When I went to bed: Chavez wins Venezuela vote
"Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing the leftist to rule for as long as he keeps winning elections, government-linked sources said, citing exit polls. Three exit polls showed the anti-American leader won by between six and eight percentage points in a vote where turnout was low, the two sources said.
Pollsters had said a low turnout would favor Chavez, who activated a state-backed get-out-the-vote campaign against an underfunded, fragmented opposition. The left-wing leader, a fierce critic of the United States and close ally of communist Cuba, has never lost a national vote and had predicted he would win by at least 10 points.
Even before any official results' were announced, some of Chavez's supporters began to celebrate.... Two exit polls showed Chavez won 53 percent of the vote, compared with 47 percent for the "No" camp, and another showed 54 percent to 46 percent.
Led by a mix of political parties and university students, the opposition had pointed to some pre-referendum polls showing it could win. It has lost to Chavez in almost yearly national votes and also failed to topple him with a coup in 2002, a national strike and a recall referendum.
Foreign investors worry that the opposition could contest the result if it suspects fraud, sparking political turbulence after a campaign marred by violent street clashes."
Well, they won't have to worry about that!
"Venezuela Hands Narrow Defeat to Chávez Plan" by SIMON ROMERO
CARACAS, Venezuela, Monday, Dec. 3 — Voters in this country narrowly defeated a proposed overhaul to the constitution in a contentious referendum over granting President Hugo Chávez sweeping new powers, the Election Commission announced early Monday.
It was the first major electoral defeat in the nine years of his presidency. Voters rejected the 69 proposed amendments 51 to 49 percent. The outcome is a stunning development. Almost immediately after the results were broadcast on state television, Mr. Chávez conceded defeat.
In Caracas on Sunday, turnout in poorer neighborhoods, where support for Mr. Chávez is strong, indicated that the referendum was drawing a mixed response. Lines were long in some areas and nonexistent in others.
Turnout in some poor districts was unexpectedly low. Turnout of registered voters was just 56 percent. Unlike in past votes here, this time the government did not invite observers from the Organization of American States or the European Union, opening itself to potential claims of fraud.
The voting seemed to unfold largely without irregularities, though there were isolated reports of fraud and violence in parts of the country. Chávez said he would cut off oil exports to the United States in the event of American interference in the vote.
The United States remains the largest buyer of Venezuela’s oil, despite deteriorating political ties, but that long commercial relationship is starting to change as Mr. Chávez increases exports of oil to China and other countries while gradually selling off the oil refineries owned by Venezuela’s government in the United States.
Uncertainty over Mr. Chávez’s reforms, meanwhile, has led to accelerating capital flight as rich Venezuelans and private companies rush to buy assets abroad denominated in dollars or euros.
And private economists estimate that a third of oil production goes to meet domestic consumption, which is surging because of a subsidy that keeps gasoline prices at about seven cents a gallon."
Why am I having flashbacks of the 2000 and 2004 American presidential elections, readers?
Venezuela does use machines!!
Here's the real story of how the referendum was rigged:
Elites win in Venezuela
Reader, do dictators lose elections?
