Citizens of Venezuela Select Community Initiatives Nationwide During Voting Process
Heading Out to Vote in Venezuela's Unconventional Election, April 22, 2024 (our website)
Venezuelans took to the polls last Sunday for the peculiar event dubbed as the National Popular Consultation. This election saw people from 4,500 local neighborhoods across the nation vote on community projects to receive state funding. Rumors swirled that President Nicolás Maduro was considering making these consultations a regular event, based on a Monday broadcast.
The budget allocated for these projects totaled an impressive $45 million, equating to $10,000 per project. Project options predominantly revolved around infrastructure repair and enhancements, as well as supporting productive ventures. Results were set to be published on the SINCO platform, managed by the Ministry of Communes.
In El Panal Commune, situated in barrio 23 de Enero, Caracas, the winning project was the acquisition of a new ambulance, aimed at enhancing local healthcare services. Several other communes, such as 5 de Marzo in Caracas and Vencedores de Carorita in Lara state, opted for improving water supply infrastructure.
The vote received logistical support from the National Electoral Council (CNE), but without automatic voting machines or an up-to-date electoral roll. Moreover, under Venezuela's popular power legislation, citizens aged over 15 were eligible to participate.
Venezuela's authorities failed to disclose turnout figures. In various communes contacted by Venezuelanalysis, or broadcasting results on social media, participation ranged between 25 and 45 percent.
Minister of Communes Guy Vernáez commended the main role of grassroots organizations and spokespeople in the event. He also expressed gratitude towards international activists who observed the voting process in various polling stations.
Insights
- The exact nature and results of the April 22, 2024, consultation are not extensively reported in the search results. However, it appears that these community consultations might become more frequent in the future.
- In a separate event, a second national public consultation was taking place in April 2025. Citizens could vote for seven main development projects, with the winning project financed by the national government and the second place project funded by state governments [5].
- The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) was preparing for elections scheduled for May 25, 2025 [1].
- Public consultations act as part of Venezuela's efforts to strengthen popular power, involving community choices on development projects.
- The National Popular Consultation held on April 22, 2024, in Venezuela was a unique event where citizens from 4,500 local neighborhoods voted on community projects to receive state funding.
- The winning project in El Panal Commune, located in Caracas, was the acquisition of a new ambulance for local healthcare services, indicative of the nature of projects predominantly revolving around infrastructure repair and enhancements.
- Minister of Communes Guy Vernáez, in acknowledging the event, praised the role of grassroots organizations and speakers, expressing gratitude towards international activists who observed the voting process.
- While turnout figures for the 2024 consultation were not disclosed by authorities, reports from various communes showed participation ranging between 25 and 45 percent, indicating a level of public engagement in these community-focused policy-and-legislation initiatives.
