Unveiling the Truth: Smartmatic’s Surreptitious Role in Venezuelan Elections Post-Withdrawal

Smartmatic, after accusing the Venezuelan government of fraud in 2017, publicly declared its withdrawal from Venezuelan elections. However, subsequent documentation reveals that its software was still utilized in three elections, with efforts to obscure its involvement. These developments bring to light substantial questions regarding electoral integrity and foreign influence in national democracy.

In a significant unveiling, it has come to light that Smartmatic, the electronic voting firm, continued to provide its software services for Venezuelan elections even after claiming it had exited the country following a controversial 2017 election. Initially, Smartmatic condemned the Venezuelan government for election fraud and announced its withdrawal amid allegations of vote manipulation. However, recent documents from Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, acquired by the Miami Herald, demonstrate that Smartmatic’s technology was utilized in at least three elections post-announcement, including the municipal elections of December 2017 and the contested presidential elections of May 2018. Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that Smartmatic collaborated with an Argentine company, Ex-Cle, to conceal its involvement in these elections. Despite assertions from Smartmatic that it had not participated in Venezuelan elections since its withdrawal, it was revealed that it sent technicians to facilitate the use of its software in the voting machines during these clandestine operations. Smartmatic’s Vice President, Juan Valera, reportedly played a pivotal role in preparing and activating the voting software, contradicting the firm’s claims that their technology was not involved in the latter elections. Furthermore, the company’s initial denial morphed into a more nuanced statement, withholding confirmation of its software’s integrity, emphasizing that true authenticity stems from their comprehensive participation throughout all electoral phases. The Venezuelan government’s continuing relationship with Smartmatic and its eventual partnership with Ex-Cle attracted scrutiny, particularly as practices from prior elections have drawn widespread condemnation for diminished credibility and transparency. The narrative further underlines Smartmatic’s legal challenges, including an arbitration claim against the Venezuelan regime for threats perceived following its withdrawal. The continued entanglement in Venezuelan electoral processes showcases the complexities of international electoral technology and governance when political motives and allegations of corruption intertwine. Virtually connected to significant histories of governance violations in Venezuela, this revelation raises essential questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Venezuela and the power dynamics at play between foreign technology firms and local electoral authorities.

Smartmatic, researched for its pivotal role in electronic voting, has a controversial history in Venezuela, where it instituted a dramatic shift away from traditional voting methods before facing backlash concomitant with allegations of electoral fraud. Following its departure from Venezuela, postulating transparency issues within the electoral council, the company’s integrity was further questioned when subsequent elections were conducted utilizing its software covertly. The allegations of continued involvement following a public withdrawal necessitate scrutiny of both Smartmatic’s operations and the institutional integrity of Venezuela’s electoral process.

In summary, Smartmatic’s re-engagement with Venezuelan electoral processes post-announcement of withdrawal illustrates significant discrepancies regarding its prior assertions of disengagement. The use of its software in shadowed circumstances raises pressing ethical questions about the company’s operational transparency and the integrity of electoral outcomes in Venezuela, highlighting intricate ties between technology, governance, and political legitimacy in contemporary electoral systems.

Original Source: www.miamiherald.com