Venezuela's opposition secured over 80% of crucial vote tally sheets. Here's how they did it.
Twenty-four hours after polls closed in Venezuela's presidential election, the leader of the opposition announced that her coalition had gathered more than two-thirds of vote tally sheets from polling centers nationwide
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The statement that upended Venezuela came 24 hours after polls closed in the presidential election.
With the reassuring tone of someone who has consistently been considered an underdog, opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado announced that her coalition had gathered more than two-thirds of vote tally sheets from polling centers nationwide, and that they show President Nicolás Maduro had lost his reelection bid.
The tally sheets known as actas — printouts measuring several feet that resemble shopping receipts — have long been considered the ultimate proof of election results in Venezuela. Opposition members knew they had to obtain as many of them as possible to refute the unfavorable election outcome they expected electoral authorities to announce.
Months of preparations and thousands of volunteers participated in the herculean task.
