Smartmatic announced its departure from Venezuela after alleging electoral fraud in the 2017 elections, yet subsequent documents revealed that its software was used in at least three elections afterward, including two conducted covertly. Venezuelan officials collaborated with a third-party company to conceal Smartmatic’s participation while the company consistently denied involvement, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Smartmatic, the electronic voting company, publicly criticized the Venezuelan government for electoral fraud in the 2017 National Constituent Assembly elections and subsequently declared its withdrawal from the country after thirteen years of operations. However, documentation obtained from Venezuela’s National Electoral Council by the Miami Herald indicates that Smartmatic’s software continued to be utilized in three further elections, including two conducted covertly: the municipal elections of December 2017 and the controversial presidential election of May 2018. Sources familiar with the electoral processes reveal that Smartmatic’s involvement was intentionally obscured. Venezuelan officials and Smartmatic executives collaborated with an Argentine company, Ex-Cle, to disguise the use of Smartmatic’s technology. “They literally used a third company to hide the participation of Smartmatic, but it was Smartmatic that provided the technicians to… prepare the software for the voting machines,” stated an informant affiliated with the National Electoral Council at the time. This narrative was corroborated by other sources familiar with the elections, who chose to remain anonymous for safety concerns regarding their families in Venezuela. Juan Valera, an Associate Manager at Smartmatic, signed an audit related to the election software in advance of the 2018 presidential election. His main purpose for traveling from Panama to Caracas was to install critical certificates for the voting machines and activate the voting software. Although he did not respond to inquiries from the Miami Herald, the timeline indicates that Smartmatic continued to play a significant yet concealed role in Venezuelan elections after their claimed exit. Following the company’s announcement to withdraw, the electoral council proclaimed its intention to partner with a new supplier for technical support. This decision coincided with Smartmatic’s denunciation of electoral fraud, leading to a perceived rupture in their client-provider relationship. Nonetheless, Smartmatic’s subsequent communications shifted, admitting to the use of its software in the debated elections, while contending that such software cannot be validated without direct involvement in election operations. In a statement made on their website in July 2020, Smartmatic maintained that they had not provided any services or software to the Venezuelan government since their exit. However, sources within the electoral council affirmed that Smartmatic’s software was indeed used in subsequent elections, contradicting the company’s claims. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that Smartmatic’s association with the Venezuelan electoral process endured through indirect pathways despite the company’s statements. Evidences such as signed audits and reports indicate that transactions relating to the use of Smartmatic software occurred, casting doubt on the integrity of elections held after Smartmatic’s alleged withdrawal. Reports also reveal a significant payment from the Venezuelan electoral authority to Ex-Cle, which subsequently facilitated payments to Smartmatic. The Venezuelan opposition, supported by multiple international entities, has consistently denounced the legitimacy of the 2018 presidential elections, asserting they were marred by fraud. Despite Smartmatic’s founding by Venezuelans and historical ties to the country, the current circumstances pose significant allegations against both the company’s practices and the integrity of elections managed in alliance with the Maduro regime, further complicated by corruption allegations related to Smartmatic and international dealings involving its executives.
Smartmatic, established in 2000 by Venezuelans, originally served as an electronic voting provider for Venezuelan elections under President Hugo Chavez. After years of providing voting technology, the company publicly announced its divestment from the Venezuelan electoral system in 2017 due to concerns about electoral integrity, particularly linked to fraud in the National Constituent Assembly elections. Following this withdrawal, the narrative surrounding the continued use of its software in subsequent elections became contentious, with allegations of covert operations, political coercion, and financial corruption surfacing in connection with Smartmatic’s dealings with the Venezuelan regime and related companies. The political backdrop features ongoing conflicts between the Venezuelan government and opposition forces, alongside international responses to allegations of electoral fraud and human rights violations under President Maduro’s administration, exacerbated by global financial sanctions and legal actions against entities involved in the Venezuelan electoral processes.
In summary, Smartmatic’s involvement in Venezuela’s electoral processes post-withdrawal from the country raises significant ethical and legal questions regarding the integrity of the elections held in 2017 and 2018. The company’s attempts to distance itself from these events juxtaposed with evidence pointing toward a covert involvement reflect a complex interplay of political, ethical, and corporate dynamics. The surrounding controversies highlight not only the challenges of maintaining electoral integrity in authoritarian contexts but also the international scrutiny of companies operating in such environments. As investigations and legal actions continue, the narratives surrounding Smartmatic’s practices remain pivotal in discussions about accountability and democratic governance in Venezuela.
Original Source: www.miamiherald.com
