Voting has been extended by two hours in Venezuela’s controversial referendum on Essequibo despite an apparent low turnout.
A low turnout would be a blow for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who has whipped up sentiment aimed at the annexation of Guyana’s Essequibo. The fifth question on today’s referendum caters for that.
The Associated Press (AP) this evening reported that less than two hours before polls were originally scheduled to close, turnout appeared to be low at voting centres in Caracas.
“Long lines typical of electoral events did not form outside the centres, but the country’s top electoral authority, Elvis Amoroso, announced polls would remain open for two additional hours, and he claimed, without giving numbers, “massive participation” in the referendum”, AP said.