WILL ELECTORAL ABSTENTION TODAY BE MUCH HIGHER IN VENEZUELA THAN IN COLOMBIA?

 

Abstention in congressional elections in Colombia seldom dip below the 50% mark. In 1994 it reached 67 %.  In 2006, 2010 and 2014 it was 54.3%, 55.8% and 56.4% respectively. The presidential elections in 2002 the abstention rate was 56.3%. Yet in none of these elections did Washington question the legitimacy of the process. The rate of abstention in Venezuela today may be a bit higher, but that’s only because in Venezuela, unlike Colombia, there is an internationally orchestrated campaign supported by national elites to convince people not to go to the polls.