How to steal an election

Let’s talk about a man who has conned his country.

Who has little business being a world power, because he has no relevant experience in running the government of an entire country. No previous governing, legislating, or policymaking experience even at the local level. A populist, a liar, and a fraud. Who can be charming and charismatic, and a figure who is seen larger than life. A man who has been formally charged of crime by the U.S. Department of Justice. Someone who only looks out for his own self-interest while the country’s economic, social and political structures crumble.

I am talking, of course, about Nicolás Maduro. Who did you think I was talking about?

Nelfer Bastidas, an electrician from Des Moines, can attest to the painful decisions many Venezuelans have had to make. They have faced poverty, poor health, and crime, and resulting migration to escape these circumstances.“What hurts me most is that I will not be able to see my daughter for a few more years.”

Bastidas is grateful to be working in Iowa and for the welcome he has received.“We are only here because of a difficult situation that has been happening in Venezuela for 26 years. We come with great intentions to work, we are very grateful that the United States is giving us the opportunity to demonstrate what we are made of. We are good people, we can be good public servants in any situation that arises. You can always count on a Venezuelan.”

And prior to the election in Venezuela last Sunday, he felt great hope. “I felt very happy, there was a lot of movement, people in the street celebrating. You could see the enthusiasm in all the people who went to vote.” He did what he could from Iowa to help mobilize people and help them vote. He sent money so that people could get transportation to voting sites. That hope quickly turned to dejection. “It was great joy until the moment when the results came out, where they fraudulently determined that Maduro was the one who had won the elections. I feel very disappointed. I feel homesick, I feel worried for my family, but what I feel most is the realization that I will not be able to return to my country for a long time.”

And now the world is seeing images of Venezuela on fire. People have taken to the streets, demanding that their vote be counted. At least 16 were killed at protests after the election, and over 700 have been arrested. Venezuela has suspended flights to Panama and the Dominican Republic, citing “ interference in Venezuelan affairs.”

For Bastidas, democracy was represented in his home country when over 9 million people came out to vote. But even though the opposition should now be in power, as demonstrated by multiple sources, he describes the lengths to which some leaders will go to in order to hold on to power.“ Maduro’s people are willing to kill people to stay in power, they are going to do it and they are currently doing it. Right now in Venezuela we are losing a civil confrontation. People are being attacked; they are being kidnapped.” Maduro has control over most of the branches of government and military, and has recently asked the Venezuelan Supreme Court to step in, presumably to declare him the winner.

Maduro’s rule has been characterized by doublespeak, false narratives and empty promises of prosperity to Venezuelans.

Bastidas asks for kindness to Venezuelans in Iowa who are anxiously watching the election fallout from afar, and for awareness about authoritarian rule. “More than ever, Venezuela needs help from all over the world so that it can get out of this situation with the regime and dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.” He stresses that stability would allow families to be reunited.

And this can be a caution to those of us who are used to relative stable democracies. “What I need people to understand is life can change a lot just with someone in power like [Maduro],” Bastidas solemnly told me.

All global citizens are one charismatic, despotic leader away from having to make very difficult decisions in order to maintain a safe life, much less a decent life. From having to leave family and lifelong homes for extreme safety or financial reasons.

Many have taken democracy for granted. I think we all know someone who is making decisions to vote for someone who does not have their best interests in mind, or for someone who has declared on more than one occasion that they will be a dictator or remove future voting cycles. Voting is an honor and privilege.

It is harder for some to vote than others for a variety of reasons. Which is why we need to lobby policymakers to make it easier, not harder, for citizen adults to vote.

May we all do what we can to protect democracy before it is too late.

David Chung is a Gazette Editorial Fellow. david.chung@thegazette.com