Why We Don't Publish Venezuela "Exit Polls"

We are aware of all the exit poll information on both sides - and we have seen the conflicting claims of at least two other websites regarding so-called "exit polls" - but we will not publish them here and I would like to explain why...

First, it is illegal under Venezuelan law.

Second, it is illegal for good reason, in a country where the Commercial Media unanimously reported, in April 2002, "Chavez Resigned" when the president was, in fact, kidnapped at gunpoint. Here, the Commercial Media has shown its willingness to blatantly lie in order to destabilize and impede democracy, and more of that kind of behavior continues today... The publication of false numbers (we know that the numbers published, for example, by "Eric" on an esqualido website are false, and knowing the source, we believe they are knowingly false, as does Venezuela Communications minister Jesse Chacón, who is also aware, now, of the probable identity of "Eric") only reflects an attempt to disqualify the hard results when they come in later tonight.

There are all kinds of shenanigans going on today in Venezuela. Here is another example, in a report filed from here in the Narco Newsroom Caracas by Manuel Rozental, who is here with Justin Podur and the Z-Net delegation collaborating in this Election Night Press Watch...

OPPOSITION LANDSLIDE VICTORY FALSELY ANNOUNCED ON VIDEO HOURS BEFORE POLLS ARE CLOSED

By Manuel Rozental

At 2:59 p.m. and some 6 to 7 hours before the polls are closed in today’s National Referendum, the Venezuelan daily El Universal informed that The President and Principal of Venezuela`s National Electoral Council (CNE), Francisco Carrasquero and Jorge Rodrìguez denounced  on a national radio and television statement that they had obtained a copy of a CD where the image and voice of Francisco Carrasquero had been manipulated.

In it, Carrasquero is heard announcing that the opposition obtained 11`436.000 (of the approximate maximum of 14`000.000).

Carrasquero is heard announcing that the mandate of President Chavez has been revoked as a result of a democratic popular decision (see
Aporrea for details). CNE authorities claim that this CD is evidence of the “fraudulent intentions” of those who vow to produce unofficial reports that have not been produced by the CNE. According to these authorities, CNE will initiate an investigation to identify those responsible for this fraud which they called an “attempt to distort the free and democratically expressed will of the (Venezuelan) people”.

Shortly after 3pm, a spokesman for the opposition reacted strongly on one of the private television stations stating that the images contained in this video are part of a comedy and in turn accused CNE authorities of using this material to generate false accusations against them.

This episode exposes the existing tensions in these final hours of an unprecedented democratic process that has mobilized massive popular participation and supports the concerns expressed by the Government and the CNE regarding possible manipulations and misinformation of the official results.

In the coming hours - polls have been opened for an extra four hours until 10 p.m. Eastern Time to handle the unprecedented high turnout in the referendum - expect more such claims and counterclaims. Here at the Narco Newsroom Caracas Bureau, with 20 fast-internet connections humming, and Authentic Journalists at the helm, we will continue shooting down all rumors and falsehoods until the accurate results are known.