[View the story "Who will rock the Venezuelan youth vote?" on Storify ]Who will rock the Venezuelan youth vote? Venezuela's youth may decide the country's election. Storified by The Stream · Wed, Oct 03 2012 12:01:06
Venezuelans head to the polls on October 7 to elect their president, and most are choosing between the incumbent President Hugo Chavez, who has been in power since 1999, and Henrique Capriles Rondonski, Governor of Venezuela's Miranda state. Chavez represents the ruling socialist party and the country's own brand of Bolivarian socialism. Capriles emerged as the Democratic candidate backed by a coalition of opposition parties following the primaries in February.
Venezuela's Chavez looks to woo youth votealjazeeraenglish
The candidates have used creative tactics to court the nation's youth, who are estimated to make up more than one third of Venezuela's registered voters.
Both politicians are
active on Facebook and Twitter, and each have millions of followers. On Twitter, Chavez's nearly 3.5 million followers towers over Capriles' 1.3 million.
On Facebook, pages like
"Chavez Corazon de mi Patria" or "Chavez, heart of my homeland" share public policy platforms with voters savvy to social media. The graphics below, taken from Chavez's page, outline the government's approach to employment and health before, during and in a possible future with Chavez.
A group called Venezuela es Otro Beta has rallied around the incumbent, starting a campaign called "Chavez es Otro Beta". The campaign depicts Chavez as a motorcyclist, a rapper, and a Christian, along with other roles to appeal to youth in Venezuela's toughest barrios. Throughout the campaign, Chavez has attempted to align his policy missions - such as government subsidised food stores and housing - with the interests of the barrio.
Ejército Comunicacional de Liberación
Here, posters declare "Chavez the leader not to forget", that "Chavez loves Christians", and promotes a "Chavez with feeling".
Miranda Es Otro beta
Graphics on Facebook show a tough image of the incumbent, "Chavez the 'pow'".
Miranda Es Otro beta
Though the images have been popular online and at Chavista rallies, critics view them as a cheap attempt at garnering votes. A blogger based in Caracas writes:
What’s scarier? That chavistas think these images are going to make da kidz vote for Chávez, or that they’re right, possibly?File Under “Signs of the Apocalypse” | Caracas Chronicles
Some Venezuelans feel that, for being in power for more than 13 years, President Chavez has not done enough to tackle violence in the country or to promote economic growth. Between 1999 and 2011, the country's economy
grew an average of 2.8 per cent. Venezuela remains one of the most violent countries in the region and has the fourth highest homicide
rate in the world.
One blogger,
Alberto Rojas , captured what he sees as an unwillingness by the Chavez government to engage these issues. In July, Rojas' blog Caracas Shots
published images of a non-violence mural covered by Chavez campaign posters.
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Says Rojas:
It was covered by Government electoral propaganda, precisely the same government that promised to reduce violence 13 years ago. The crime rates are its worst opposition.Caracas Shots: Ahimsa Inspiration | P.S.
Alternatively, many see Capriles as an appealing challenger to Chavez, in part because of his marketing as a new approach to politics after thirteen years of Chavez rule. The photo below depicts a street poster of Capriles as Superman, with a slogan of 'evolution' rather than 'revolution', a reference to Chavez's rise to power.
Afiche de #SuperCapriles en las 4 Avenidas en #Valencia!!! #hayuncamino #Capriles http://instagr.am/p/PuUxs3MDrQ/Leonardo Perez
Capriles has his amassed his own sizable online following, with his campaign slogan's hashtag #HayUnCamino peaking at 106,000 mentions on Twitter. On Tuesday night, days before the election, Capriles appeared on the Venezuelan late night show Chataing TV. The clip below, in Spanish, highlights some of the conversation between Capriles and the show's host.
HCR Chataing TV 16topodernoticias
Netizens like
Luis tweeted about the appearance using the hashtag #CaprilesEnChataingTV.
#CaprilesEnChataingTV #HayUnCamino. http://twitpic.com/b0k1g7lafc.
That hashtag online trended worldwide, reaching more than 100,000 mentions,
according to Topsy Analytics.
#CaprilesEnChataingTV en el primer lugar de los TT mundiales justo ahora. http://twitpic.com/b0kfleAníbal Guerra
Some, however, believe that Capriles' moderate-right, capitalist policies will be a move
backwards for country. Though public images of Capriles have not been entirely positive, blogger Gringa in Caracas
says the visibility of the opposition candidate is "a sign of democracy".
Previously, Veneuela’s political discussion was either pro-Chávez or anti-Chávez, there was no serious alternative. Now, with a single candidate from the newly unified opposition parties, the question is Chávez or Capriles. The discussion of both candidates’ conflicting agendas is important to the country’s democracy as Venezuelans decide which path to take.Gringa in Caracas « Venezuela's Presidential Election 2012
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Many are questioning whether Sunday's vote will be free and fair. Each major party will groups monitoring polling stations around the country. In anticipation of the election, the civil society coaltion
Elección Ciudadana has released it's own site which documents election participation and returns, violence, and abuse through a crowd sourced map.
Elección CiudadanaAJstream
Venezuela has initiated a new voting process for this year's election that features identity verification and electronic voting. The site
Como Votar walks Venezuelans through the voting process with an interactive mock vote.
Metete en comovotar.com para aprender a votar con el nuevo sistema el 7Oandresazp
The
most recent polling places Chavez only 6 points ahead of his challenger, with 10 per cent of voters undecided.
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