Venezuela holds second 2026 National Popular Consultation

Venezuela held its second National Popular Consultation of 2026 on Sunday, October 18. The electoral process involved 48,086 communal councils organized across 5,418 communes and communal circuits. Voters, including those aged 15 and older, cast ballots to prioritize 37,205 community projects aimed at addressing local needs such as water supply, electricity, road infrastructure, health, and education.

For the first time, the consultation included participation from residential condominium boards, expanding the scope of community-led investment decisions. The National Electoral Council (CNE) managed 12,769 polling stations and 11,495 voting centers. To ensure security, the Plan República, involving the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, was deployed to protect polling sites.

Government officials, including Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and Minister for Communes Ángel Prado, characterized the turnout as successful and extraordinary. Officials stated that funding for the winning projects is prepared for allocation, with execution expected to begin in the final quarter of the year. While government leaders praised the event as a demonstration of participatory democracy, some reports noted citizen skepticism regarding past project implementation and the ongoing crisis in public services.