Venezuela Prepares for Post-Chavez Elections

Voting centers in Caracas were under military guard on Saturday ahead of Venezuela’s presidential election to choose a successor to the late President Hugo Chavez. (April 13)

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ARMED GUARDS KEEP WATCH OVER A POLLING CENTER IN VENEZUELA’S CAPITAL – AS THE COUNTRY GETS SET TO VOTE ON A SUCCESSOR TO THE PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ.

APPROXIMATELY 125 THOUSAND SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED AHEAD OF SUNDAY’S VOTE.

THEY’LL MAINTAIN SECURITY AT MORE THAN 13 THOUSAND POLLING PLACES — AND VOTERS WILL CHOOSE BETWEEN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE HENRIQUE CAPRILES (cah-PREE-layss)

AND ACTING PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO — CHAVEZ’S HANDPICKED SUCCESSOR.

IN THE U.S. — THOUSANDS OF VENEZUELANS WERE MAKING THEIR WAY FROM MIAMI TO THEIR CLOSEST VOTING CENTER — NEW ORLEANS.

MOST ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE FOR CAPRILES.

ORGANIZERS SAID THEY EXPECTED SUNDAY’S TURNOUT IN NEW ORLEANS TO BE AS HIGH OR A BIT HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR’S VOTE.

SIGOUT – Diane Kepley/Associated Press

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