Vice President Kamala Harris says U.S. stands with Venezuelan people as polls close on critical election day

As Sunday’s presidential election in Venezuela inches to a close, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris took to X to express support for Venezuelan people.

“The United States stands with the people of Venezuela who expressed their voice in today’s historic presidential election,” Harris wrote.

“The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. Despite the many challenges, we will continue to work toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future for the people of Venezuela.”

Under Venezuelan law, polling centers are supposed to close at 6 p.m. but must remain open for voters that were already waiting in line.

The South American country’s opposition coalition is calling on election officials to close the polls and begin counting ballots.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado took to social media at 6:11 p.m. calling upon the National Electoral Council to shut down the more than 15,000 voting centers nationwide as a means of making sure there was no election interference by the Maduro regime.

“It's 6:00 in the afternoon, the time has come!!” she wrote on X. “If there are no people in line, the tables must be closed. It is time for you to see how your vote is counted, piece by piece.

“To all witnesses: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE RECORD. The record is the proof, make sure you have it and follow the Command protocol.”

At about 5:20 p.m. with only 40 minutes left before the polls were scheduled to close, Maduro was still trying to rally Chavista supporters to vote.

“We are just one hour away from the 1x10x7 making the perfect finish, let's finish this wonderful #electoral day in peace,” the communist president said via the platform X.

“Go out and vote so that this #28Jul you crown #Peace!”

Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported that the military was trying to herd potential election observers away so they could not witness the vote count.

“Fifteen minutes past the closing time about 40 people were met by an armed soldier, a member of a people’s militia, and other members of the armed forces when they requested access to a voting center in the low-income neighborhood of Catia to witness the vote counting process as allowed by law,” the wire service reported.

“They were told they could not enter because people were still voting, yet no voters could be seen inside and the members of the armed forces and electoral authority representatives refused to close the site.

Minutes later, gang members affiliated with the government showed up on motorcycles to intimidate people trying to witness the vote count.”