Venezuelans vote to direct funding to local projects
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Venezuelans voted on October 18 to allocate state funding to over 37,000 projects proposed by local communities across the country.
The vote took place in 5,418 communal circuits, which are neighborhood-level organizations designed to promote self-governance. Voters chose from projects focusing on water, roads, lighting, health, and education, with each selected project receiving an initial $10,000 for community-managed implementation.
This consultation builds on a previous vote earlier in the year and represents a recurring effort to involve citizens directly in decisions about public spending. Authorities established 11,495 voting centers and 12,769 polling tables nationwide, securing the process with 13,000 Republic Plan security members and over 36,000 community volunteers. The majority of proposed projects fell into the City and Services sector, with over 19,000 initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure like water systems and roads.
Social programs accounted for 9,217 proposals, and economic development projects totaled 4,887. For the first time, over 400 condominium boards also participated, allowing residents of apartment buildings to propose and vote on projects like elevator repairs. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez stated that this process allows citizens to practice “protagonistic and participatory form of democracy” and connects the vote to the allocation of the National Budget.
Officials reported high success rates in previous consultations, attributing it to community oversight of the projects.
