Venezuelan Emigrants Face Obstacles in Voting Against Maduro
Giovanny Tovar, a Venezuelan emigrant living in Peru, left his home country five years ago in search of a better life. Now, he sells empanadas and tequeños on the streets of Lima, dreaming of the day he can cast his vote to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
However, Tovar, like millions of other Venezuelan emigrants, faces significant obstacles in exercising his right to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Costly and time-consuming government prerequisites, not found in Venezuela’s election laws, prevent many emigrants from registering to vote.
Despite the estimated 7.7 million Venezuelans who have left their homeland during Maduro’s presidency, only about 107,000 are registered to vote outside the country. Analysts believe that most emigrants would vote against Maduro if given the chance, as they have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by his regime.
The residency requirement for registration further limits the number of eligible voters, as many emigrants lack legal status in their host countries. Additionally, the requirement for a Venezuelan passport, which is expensive and time-consuming to obtain, poses another barrier to voting.
While polling suggests that Venezuelans overwhelmingly want to participate in the election and would likely vote against Maduro, the obstacles faced by emigrants may prevent them from having their voices heard. The opposition, while acknowledging these challenges, may prioritize engaging voters within Venezuela over facilitating voting abroad.
As the election approaches, Venezuelan emigrants around the world continue to face hurdles in exercising their right to vote against Maduro. Despite their determination, many may be unable to participate in the democratic process that could bring about much-needed change in their home country.