This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22141786

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Venezuelan vote to choose Hugo Chavez successor Venezuelans vote to choose Hugo Chavez successor
(about 1 hour later)
People in Venezuela are voting in a presidential election, called after the death of Hugo Chavez.People in Venezuela are voting in a presidential election, called after the death of Hugo Chavez.
Acting President Nicolas Maduro, chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor, is running against Henrique Capriles, currently governor of Miranda state.Acting President Nicolas Maduro, chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor, is running against Henrique Capriles, currently governor of Miranda state.
Mr Capriles narrowly lost to Mr Chavez in elections last October.Mr Capriles narrowly lost to Mr Chavez in elections last October.
On the eve of polls opening, he accused Mr Maduro of breaking election laws by continuing its campaign on state television.On the eve of polls opening, he accused Mr Maduro of breaking election laws by continuing its campaign on state television.
Mr Maduro, aged 50, whose campaign has focused on his close relationship to Mr Chavez, was shown visiting the tomb of the late leader, a move Mr Capriles, 40, said was "violating all the electoral norms".Mr Maduro, aged 50, whose campaign has focused on his close relationship to Mr Chavez, was shown visiting the tomb of the late leader, a move Mr Capriles, 40, said was "violating all the electoral norms".
The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says both candidates have to some extent broken the media silence they are supposed to have maintained since campaigning officially ended on Thursday.The BBC's Will Grant in Caracas says both candidates have to some extent broken the media silence they are supposed to have maintained since campaigning officially ended on Thursday.
Almost 19 million Venezuelans will have the right to vote on Sunday.Almost 19 million Venezuelans will have the right to vote on Sunday.
Voting is electronic - one machine will identify voters' fingerprints, and a second will recognise identity card numbers and register the vote anonymously.Voting is electronic - one machine will identify voters' fingerprints, and a second will recognise identity card numbers and register the vote anonymously.
Polls opened at 06:30 local time (11:00 GMT) and will close 10 hours later, although they will stay open until all those queuing at closing time have voted.Polls opened at 06:30 local time (11:00 GMT) and will close 10 hours later, although they will stay open until all those queuing at closing time have voted.
Official results are expected about three hours after the polls close.
Both candidates wrote on the social network Twitter early in the morning.Both candidates wrote on the social network Twitter early in the morning.
Mr Maduro invited Venezuelans to vote to guarantee the future and the perpetual peace of their country. Meanwhile opposition candidate Henrique Capriles described the day as great.Mr Maduro invited Venezuelans to vote to guarantee the future and the perpetual peace of their country. Meanwhile opposition candidate Henrique Capriles described the day as great.
'Chavez nightmare'
The former president died on 5 March, after a two-year battle against an undisclosed type of cancer, prompting a short electoral campaign period before Sunday's elections.The former president died on 5 March, after a two-year battle against an undisclosed type of cancer, prompting a short electoral campaign period before Sunday's elections.
The winner is due to be sworn in on 19 April and serve until January 2019, to complete the six-year term that Mr Chavez would have begun in January. The winner is due to be sworn in on 19 April and serve until January 2019, to complete the six-year term that Mr Chavez was supposed to have begun in January.
Mr Chavez's handpicked candidate Nicolas Maduro is seen as the front-runner, but recent polls suggested the gap between him and his rival, Mr Capriles, was narrowing. Mr Chavez was a divisive leader. To his supporters he was the reforming president whose idiosyncratic brand of socialism defeated the political elite and gave hope to the poorest Venezuelans.
He effectively used his country's vast oil reserves to boost Venezuela's international clout, and his strident criticism of the US won him many political allies in Latin America.
However, his political opponents accuse him of being an autocrat, intent on building a one-party state.
Mr Chavez bequeaths a nation beset by crumbling infrastructure, unsustainable public spending and under-performing industry.
His handpicked candidate Nicolas Maduro is seen as the front-runner, but recent polls suggested the gap between him and his rival, Mr Capriles, was narrowing.
"My vote will be for Maduro, but my heart will be with Chavez," Alejandro Almeida, 67, a retired factory worker, told the French news agency AFP."My vote will be for Maduro, but my heart will be with Chavez," Alejandro Almeida, 67, a retired factory worker, told the French news agency AFP.
But opposition supporter Alexis Chacon, 74, who runs a chemical company, said he was "terribly disappointed" with the current situation in oil-rich Venezuela.But opposition supporter Alexis Chacon, 74, who runs a chemical company, said he was "terribly disappointed" with the current situation in oil-rich Venezuela.
"The Hugo Chavez nightmare has sunk this country," he told AFP."The Hugo Chavez nightmare has sunk this country," he told AFP.