Observing the Venezuela Presidential Recall Referendum
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SPECIAL REPORT SERIES Observing the Venezuela Presidential Recall Referendum COMPREHENSIVE REPORT Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. THE CARTER CENTER STRIVES TO RELIEVE SUFFERING BY ADVANCING PEACE AND HEALTH WORLDWIDE; IT SEEKS TO PREVENT AND RESOLVE CONFLICTS, ENHANCE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE. OBSERVING THE VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ONE COPENHILL 453 FREEDOM PARKWAY ATLANTA, GA 30307 (404) 420-5175 FAX (404) 420-5196 WWW.CARTERCENTER.ORG FEBRUARY 2005 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword . .3 Delegation Lists . .5 Signature Collection . .5 Reparos . .6 Recall Referendum . .8 Acknowledgments . .10 Abbreviations . .12 Executive Summary . .13 Brief History of Venezuela . .24 Introduction to the Recall Referendum Process . .26 Summary of Recall Process . 28 Recall Referendum Observation Methodology . .29 Observation of the Signature Collection . .33 Observation of the Signature Verification Process . .38 Flowchart of CNE Signature Verification Process . .46 Observation of the Reparo Period . .47 Observation of the Aug. 15 Recall Referendum . .54 Conclusions and Looking Toward the Future . .78 Other Carter Center Activities in Venezuela . .81 Recall of Deputies Summary Report . .83 Appendices 1. Key Terms . .84 2. Presidential Recall Referendum: August 15, 2004, Results . .86 3. Audit of the Results of the Presidential Recall Referendum in Venezuela . .88 4. Report on an Analysis of the Representativeness of the Second Audit Sample . .94 5. Carter Center Verification Sample Report . .101 6. Signature Collection Petition Form . .110 7. Reparo Notebook for Valid Signatures . .111 8. Reparo Notebook for Rejected Signatures . .112 9. Ballot . 113 10. Signature Collection Observer Checklist . .114 11. Reparo Observer Checklist . .118 12. Recall Referendum Observer Checklist . 122 13. Findings on Allegations of Fraud . .127 End Notes . .135 The Carter Center at a Glance . .inside back cover 2 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM FOREWORD ugo Chávez was elected president of citizens served as electoral workers throughout the Venezuela in 1998. The Carter Center entire period. It was a remarkable effort, although Hobserved this election and has remained complicated and fraught with problems. At its conclu- engaged in Venezuela since that time, observing the sion, almost 60 percent of the voting electorate in constitutional referendum in 1999, monitoring the Venezuela affirmed their support for President Chávez megaelections in 2000, and mediating the deepening to fulfill his term. dispute between Chávez’s ruling party and his oppo- Still, some 40 percent of the electorate affirmed nents after the April 2002 attempted coup. I have been their dissatisfaction with the direction in which he has involved personally in all of these activities. Through taken the country. The burden is now on President these efforts, and oftentimes with the Organization of Chávez and his government to demonstrate to both his American States, we have worked to lessen the polar- detractors and his supporters that he governs equitably ization in the country, providing assistance and for all citizens in the country. support to all parties when requested. While the polarization in Venezuela is of great Many Venezuelans hoped that a participatory and concern, it is equally troubling to see democratic insti- constitutional process vetting competing demands tutions and practices in the country so challenged. through democratic means might result in a less Many in the political sector and in the public have little polarized political environment. It proved an overly confidence in the National Electoral Council, the body ambitious expectation that the Aug. 15 presidential responsible for administering the electoral process. The recall referendum could serve this purpose. CNE must take seriously the criticisms put forward Several months have passed since the recall, and it about its performance and make all the reforms needed would be difficult to argue that the political situation to strengthen the democratic process, restoring voter in the country has improved significantly. Venezuela confidence in electoral institutions and practices. remains deeply divided. President Chávez’s supporters The opposition political parties must remain still believe he has transformed the country so that, for engaged, using democratic means to ensure that all the first time, the needs of all citizens are being Venezuelans are represented in national and local level addressed, most notably the poor and disenfranchised. decision-making. The opposition must reorganize and His opponents still believe he is destroying the economy, develop viable alternative programs and leaders to pro- excluding important sectors of society, and doing away vide citizens a choice. with many fundamental democratic institutions and prac- President Chávez and his government must ensure tices. The feelings and perceptions of both inclusion and that political space exists for all sectors of Venezuelan exclusion on the part of the competing political forces are society, that practices of governance welcome diversity strong, pervasive, and remain politically problematic. of opinion, and that appropriate checks and balances The recall process took almost one full year to on government activity are honored and utilized. complete. The country, in large part, was focused on I applaud the people of Venezuela for their great this single political event, mobilizing around each patience and fortitude throughout the entire recall phase as it unfolded. Political parties rallied supporters process as well as for their commitment to seeing a to collect signatures for the recall and to observe the democratic process through to its conclusion. Millions verification of those signatures. Tens of thousands of of Venezuelan citizens waited in long lines to sign petitions 3 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM calling for the recall referendum, with almost 1 million coming forward again to reaffirm their original signa- tures. Some exercised their right to sign or refrain while subject to intimidation and harassment. Then millions of Venezuelans waited in long lines on Aug. 15 to cast their ballots, again exercising their democratic right to express support for or against their president. Their commitment to resolving the country’s political crisis through democratic and peaceful means is admirable and merits immense respect. 4 THE CARTER CENTER OBSERVING THE VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM OBSERVATION DELEGATION FOR VENEZUELA PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURE COLLECTION NOV. 28 – DEC. 1, 2003 Head of Delegation Jennifer McCoy, Director, Americas Program, The Carter Center, USA Staff Leadership Francisco Diez, Venezuela Field Representative, The Carter Center, Argentina Rachel Fowler, Senior Program Associate, Democracy Program, The Carter Center, USA Marcel Guzmán de Rojas, Venezuela Elections Manager, The Carter Center, Bolivia Delegation Andres Araya, International Consultant, Costa Rica Craig Auchter, Professor, Political Science, Butler University, USA Claudia Barrientos, Senior Program Officer, National Democratic Institute, USA Ana Cabria Mellace, Strengthening Peace in Venezuela, Project Officer, Argentina Fernando Carreño, General Manager, NEOTEC Ltda., Bolivia Camilo Eid, Information Technology Consultant, Bolivia Richard Elsner, Principal Business Manager, Deutschen Telekom Training, Germany Sandra Flores, Electoral Consultant, France Alvaro Garcia, International Consultant, USA Sharon Lean, Doctoral Candidate, University of California, Irvine, USA Thomas Legler, Professor, Mount Allison University, Canada Barry Levitt, Assistant Professor, Latin American and.