Here's a link I think is live coverage taken from rabs's post in LBN.

[Judi Lynn]

http://www.vtv.gov.ve/envivo.html

My Spanish is goddawful due to so many years having passed since I took it in school. These guys are speaking way too fast for me to catch too much, although their language sounds BEAUTIFUL.

I can tell, without understanding what they're saying, the Chavistas are all HAPPY in their interviews in the street.

Please check it out, if you're interested.

[EFerrari]

1. Had to download a plug in and reboot but have it now. If any hard info, will post.

(I'm surprised my ear adjusted so fast! :) )

[EFerrari]

2. The polls are reportedly closed now.

Hmm. I can't get the nasdaq link to work, it's too long.

ETA: And yet, I'm seeing people still voting so maybe nasdaq is wrong.

[EFerrari]

3. I'm watching an interview with an election official right now.

He's pointing out that the voting was peaceful, that he and his panel are present as well as international election monitors. Behind him, you can see people counting. The whole process makes me a little jealous!

[EFerrari]

4. It sounds like there was a high level of participation, per an election monitor. n/t

[EFerrari]

5. LOL! They're showing a bunch of "Si!" voters on the street in Caracas

-- they look to be celebrating their GOTV! I can't catch where they are. The small caption looks like ants and the big one pixelates. lol

[EFerrari]

6. An observer (I think a domestic one from the Elections Bureau)

reports that there were minor problems in Miranda and in Maracaibo but that they were corrected.

[EFerrari]

7. They seem to be filling time while the counting goes forward. I'll check back in later. nt

[Peace Patriot]

8. I am breathlessly awaiting your repors, EFerrari! Thanks so much!

I posted pre-election poll info here (comment #2)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8200041

A good article on the whole thing posted here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x11654

[EFerrari]

9. I think it will be a while, my friend, because remember Venezuela conducts AUDITS!

Right now, the Communications Minister is talking and I imagine he's filling time. I'll check back in every 15 or so but it will probably be a few hours before we know anything.

[Joanne98]

10. Thanks for your translation EFerrari ... We are all waiting for results.

[Peace Patriot]

11. For what it's worth, an opposition blogger says it's 55% Yes vs 45% No, based on

insider sources, with 80% of the votes now counted. I got the link from BoRev.net.

http://www.caracaschronicles.com/2009/02/si-wins-54-to-45.html

[Peace Patriot]

12. Al Jazeera says it's a win for "Yes," on the basis of exit polls...

Chavez 'wins' Venezuela referendum

Exit polls in Venezuela's referendum indicate that Hugo Chavez, the president, has won support to scrap term limits for elected officials, including himself.

Several pollsters gave the "yes" vote between 53 and 60 per cent on Sunday, meaning that Chavez could seek re-election indefinitely.

Polling stations remained opened past the official closing time to allow all voters already in line to cast their ballots.

More than 16 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote "Yes" or "No" in the fifth referendum since Chavez was first elected in 1999.

Festive mood

Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez, reporting from close to the presidential palace in Caracas, said there was a festive mood on the streets of the capital as Chavez supporters already began celebrating late on Sunday.

(MORE)

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/02/200921602959722265.html

--------------

That's a pretty wide range in these unspecified exit polls--53% to 60%. I'm not going to trust this until we get more confirmation.

Venezuelan election law forbids promulgation of exit polls in Venezuela, until all polling stations are closed--which may account for the somewhat furtive nature of these reports so far.

[EFerrari]

14. Just got back from errands. Someone is singing on that channel.

I take it that's good news?!

Just music right now. Quietly optimistic!

[Billy Burnett]

13. Did you see Mika's post in LBN?

Mika (1000+ posts) Sun Feb-15-09 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
34. News just in, heard this on Miamicuban exile radio: Fights at Miami-Dade college polls.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3739960&mesg_id=3740601

Edited on Sun Feb-15-09 08:28 PM by Mika
Some Bolivarian communists dared show up to vote wearing their red shirts.

Police quickly broke things up. No arrests.

I heard a 20 second audio snip interview with an irate anti Chavez voter on the scene saying that all communists and Castro lovers (like the young Bolivarians) should be hung like Saddam.

Hoo boy! What a town.

I'm not there right now, but do I ever know what he's talking about. Crazy town.


edit-->going to be a lot of down-in-the-mouth exiles tonight at the Versailles, eh? ;)

:hi:

[EFerrari]

15. No official results yet on this channel.

:evilgrin:

[EFerrari]

16. 54.+ Si / 45.+ No

LOL!
:woohoo:

Felicidades, Venezuela, por su proceso democratico! Ganamos todos!

:woohoo:

[Peace Patriot]

18. This is just one point short of a landslide. Conventional political wisdom puts

a landslide at 10%. This is a 9% difference. But, official landslide or not, I'm glad it was decisive.

[Gold Metal Flake]

19. Oh, so that means Chavez is a dictator, right?

What with all of the democratic process, free will and the choice of the people and all.








:hide:












:woohoo:

[EFerrari]

20. LOL! I think he blew his chance!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

17. Omg. There's thousands of people outside Miraflores!

They're singing and there are fireworks going off.

ETA: Make that hundreds of thousands.

[EFerrari]

21. Has anyone seen the Gucci protesters tonight?

They must by crying into their shrinking portfolios.

[Judi Lynn]

22. It would be worth its weight in gold to have a photo of those guys as they packed it in and left.

Hope it will be followed by many, many, MANY more surprises for these foolish, pointless people.

[dipsydoodle]

23. BBC video with short english narrative

Venezuelans have voted to lift limits on terms in office for elected officials, allowing President Hugo Chavez to stand for re-election.

With 94% of votes counted, 54% backed an end to term limits, a National Electoral Council official said.

Mr Chavez has said he needs to stay in office beyond the end of his second term in 2012 so he can secure what he calls Venezuela's socialist revolution.

>

"The doors of the future are wide open," Mr Chavez shouted from the balcony of the Miraflores presidential palace after the results were announced.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7891856.stm