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Mobilising Venezuela's voters Mobilising Venezuela's voters
(1 day later)
By Claudia Jardim BBC Brasil, Caracas Backers of both the yes and no camps are keen to ensure a good turnoutBy Claudia Jardim BBC Brasil, Caracas Backers of both the yes and no camps are keen to ensure a good turnout
Carrying lists and knocking on every door, thousands of supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are working to try to persuade people to vote "yes" in a referendum due this Sunday.Carrying lists and knocking on every door, thousands of supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are working to try to persuade people to vote "yes" in a referendum due this Sunday.
At stake is whether to amend the constitution to remove the limit on the number of terms elected officials can serve.At stake is whether to amend the constitution to remove the limit on the number of terms elected officials can serve.
If the measure is approved, the constitutional amendment would allow President Chavez to run for office again when his term expires in 2012.If the measure is approved, the constitutional amendment would allow President Chavez to run for office again when his term expires in 2012.
Gathered in "patrols", volunteers work to ensure that everyone sympathetic to Mr Chavez's government and what he calls the Bolivarian revolution turns out to vote.Gathered in "patrols", volunteers work to ensure that everyone sympathetic to Mr Chavez's government and what he calls the Bolivarian revolution turns out to vote.
"Many claim victory too early and don't actually go out to vote. Others seem unenthusiastic," says Josefina Hernandez, a community leader and head of the patrols in the neighbourhood of San Marin of the capital, Caracas."Many claim victory too early and don't actually go out to vote. Others seem unenthusiastic," says Josefina Hernandez, a community leader and head of the patrols in the neighbourhood of San Marin of the capital, Caracas.
"Our job is to mobilise people and show them the importance of this referendum for our revolution.""Our job is to mobilise people and show them the importance of this referendum for our revolution."
AbstentionAbstention
Government supporters are not alone in seeking to reduce abstention rates; the opposition is also keen to convince voters to exercise their right.Government supporters are not alone in seeking to reduce abstention rates; the opposition is also keen to convince voters to exercise their right.
The latest opinion polls suggest that the referendum could be tight.The latest opinion polls suggest that the referendum could be tight.
Pollsters Datanalisis projects 51.5% for the "yes" campaign to end limits on terms in office, against 48.1% for the "no".Pollsters Datanalisis projects 51.5% for the "yes" campaign to end limits on terms in office, against 48.1% for the "no".
We work in the context of an unequal and abusive campaign. But we do so with the certainty that by exercising our vote we will win Leopoldo LopezFormer opposition mayorWe work in the context of an unequal and abusive campaign. But we do so with the certainty that by exercising our vote we will win Leopoldo LopezFormer opposition mayor
Followers of President Chavez believe that high abstention rates lay behind a steep decline in their expected support the last time a proposed constitutional change was put to the vote.Followers of President Chavez believe that high abstention rates lay behind a steep decline in their expected support the last time a proposed constitutional change was put to the vote.
In 2006, Mr Chavez was re-elected with some 7.3m votes. A year later, only 4.3m voted for the official proposal, meaning defeat for the government.In 2006, Mr Chavez was re-elected with some 7.3m votes. A year later, only 4.3m voted for the official proposal, meaning defeat for the government.
The opposition's support increased by up to 200,000, suggesting that those who voted for the president in 2007 did not cross over to opposition ranks - they simply did not vote.The opposition's support increased by up to 200,000, suggesting that those who voted for the president in 2007 did not cross over to opposition ranks - they simply did not vote.
Ms Hernandez says they will not let "victory slip away" as in 2007.Ms Hernandez says they will not let "victory slip away" as in 2007.
"Now people are aware and know what they want." she says."Now people are aware and know what they want." she says.
On the streetsOn the streets
Each "patrol" activist is responsible for identifying 10 electors in their neighbourhoods, where they carry out a sort of census.Each "patrol" activist is responsible for identifying 10 electors in their neighbourhoods, where they carry out a sort of census.
"We know everyone and we know who is 'Chavista' and who is not," Nemia Martinez told BBC Brasil. "We know everyone and we know who is 'Chavista' and who is not," Nemia Martinez told BBC Brasil. class="lp" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6060&edition=2&ttl=20090214020757">Have Your Say class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6060&edition=2&ttl=20090214020757">If a president is doing a good job why not just keep him forever?Brian, San Francisco, USA class="" href="Optional Link URL">
"We have a complete map of the community and we know how many votes we can count on," he said."We have a complete map of the community and we know how many votes we can count on," he said.
On election day, patrollers will be responsible for making sure that each group of electors has actually voted.On election day, patrollers will be responsible for making sure that each group of electors has actually voted.
They will then pass the information on to the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to add to a sort of informal assessment of results, since exit polls are not allowed in Venezuela.They will then pass the information on to the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to add to a sort of informal assessment of results, since exit polls are not allowed in Venezuela.
According to the PSUV, more than a million patrollers are working in the campaign.According to the PSUV, more than a million patrollers are working in the campaign.
"The hard bit is to campaign in the (middle-class) buildings. The middle classes don't care about the revolution, they don't answer the door. Our votes come from the periphery," says patroller Ninuska Mendoza.Opinion polls suggest the result of Sunday's referendum could be tight"The hard bit is to campaign in the (middle-class) buildings. The middle classes don't care about the revolution, they don't answer the door. Our votes come from the periphery," says patroller Ninuska Mendoza.Opinion polls suggest the result of Sunday's referendum could be tight
As one of these groups walked up the steep hills of San Agustin, a slum in Caracas, they were approached by a woman who asked for help to drive her husband to the nearest poll station on Sunday.As one of these groups walked up the steep hills of San Agustin, a slum in Caracas, they were approached by a woman who asked for help to drive her husband to the nearest poll station on Sunday.
"He has just come out of the hospital and can't walk," said Amparo Giraldo, who insisted that the group visited her husband."He has just come out of the hospital and can't walk," said Amparo Giraldo, who insisted that the group visited her husband.
The couple live in a poor garage turned into house. In bed, Luiz Cerezo, who receives weekly sessions of radiotherapy, says he cannot miss this vote.The couple live in a poor garage turned into house. In bed, Luiz Cerezo, who receives weekly sessions of radiotherapy, says he cannot miss this vote.
"Our revolution has to go on and I trust Chavez," he tells the group while watching the president speak on the state TV channel."Our revolution has to go on and I trust Chavez," he tells the group while watching the president speak on the state TV channel.
The patrollers promised Mr Cerezo they would drive him to a poll station.The patrollers promised Mr Cerezo they would drive him to a poll station.
Text messagesText messages
For the opposition, the patrols are an example of how the Chavez administration uses the state machine to support the "yes" campaign.For the opposition, the patrols are an example of how the Chavez administration uses the state machine to support the "yes" campaign.
"We work in the context of an unequal and abusive campaign. But we do so with the certainty that by exercising our vote we will win. And we will defend the rights of Venezuelans," said Leopoldo Lopez, former mayor of Chacao, one of the municipalities that make up Greater Caracas."We work in the context of an unequal and abusive campaign. But we do so with the certainty that by exercising our vote we will win. And we will defend the rights of Venezuelans," said Leopoldo Lopez, former mayor of Chacao, one of the municipalities that make up Greater Caracas.
The No campaign is being run through TV spots broadcast on private channels and sent via emails, by text messages to mobile phones, and via pamphlets distributed at traffic light junctions.The No campaign is being run through TV spots broadcast on private channels and sent via emails, by text messages to mobile phones, and via pamphlets distributed at traffic light junctions.
A group of students distributing the "no" flyers in a subway station in Caracas got a mixed reaction. Some people were happy to accept the leaflets containing the words: "No is no" - others not so.A group of students distributing the "no" flyers in a subway station in Caracas got a mixed reaction. Some people were happy to accept the leaflets containing the words: "No is no" - others not so.
The friendly atmosphere changed when one of the passengers refused the pamphlet and identified herself as a "yes" supporter. It sparked a heated debate in the middle of the train.The friendly atmosphere changed when one of the passengers refused the pamphlet and identified herself as a "yes" supporter. It sparked a heated debate in the middle of the train.
"I will not lower myself, I won't argue with you," said one of the students."I will not lower myself, I won't argue with you," said one of the students.
The woman replied: "Of course not, the bourgeoisie is always scared of the poor, right?"The woman replied: "Of course not, the bourgeoisie is always scared of the poor, right?"
The young male student responded: "You don't understand that those who have the money have worked and fought for it."The young male student responded: "You don't understand that those who have the money have worked and fought for it."
The woman insisted: "That was at the expense of the majority".The woman insisted: "That was at the expense of the majority".
Within seconds, everyone in the train carriage was arguing. One side championing President Chavez's social programmes, the other rejecting the possibility that he be president "for the rest of his life".Within seconds, everyone in the train carriage was arguing. One side championing President Chavez's social programmes, the other rejecting the possibility that he be president "for the rest of his life".
The dispute ended when the train stopped at Capitolio station in downtown Caracas. The Chavista crowd got off chanting "Uh, ah, Chavez no se va (Chavez won't go)".The dispute ended when the train stopped at Capitolio station in downtown Caracas. The Chavista crowd got off chanting "Uh, ah, Chavez no se va (Chavez won't go)".
Inside the carriage, the students insisted: "No is no".Inside the carriage, the students insisted: "No is no".