How to steal an election
1) appoint your henchman as the head of the body that runs the election
On the left is Elvis Eduardo Hidrobo Amoroso
In 2023 Elvis was appointed by Maduro's party the PSUV to head the CNE (National Election Council)
Elvis is a member of the PSUV
Previously he was appointed by the PSUV as Comptroller General of Venezuela
During his tenure as Comptroller General he barred Maduro's opponent Juan Guaidó from running for office
It is likely illegal for a civil servant to bar anyone from running for office under Articles 62 and 65 of the Venezuelan Constitution
"Article 62
All citizens have the right to participate freely in public affairs, either directly or through their elected representatives.
The participation of the people in forming, carrying out and controlling the management of public affairs is the necessary way of achieving the involvement to ensure their complete development, both individual and collective. It is the obligation of the State and the duty of society to facilitate the generation of optimum conditions for putting this into practice."
"Article 65
Persons who have been convicted of crimes committed while holding office or other offenses against public property, shall be ineligible to run for any office filled by popular vote, for such period as may be prescribed by law after serving their sentences, depending on the seriousness of the offense."
The office of Comptroller General had previously barred Maduro's opponents Henrique Capriles and @Leo Lopez
Elvis' CNE invited the Carter Center to observe the 2024 election
The Carter Center concluded:
"Throughout the electoral process, the CNE demonstrated a clear bias in favor of the incumbent."
"the registration of the candidacy of the main opposition forces was subject to arbitrary decisions of the CNE, without respecting basic legal principles"
"The Carter Center cannot verify or corroborate the results of the election declared by the National Electoral Council (CNE), and the electoral authority’s failure to announce disaggregated results by polling station constitutes a serious breach of electoral principles."
