jthrak

I knew this would happen but I'm much too upset to accept it.


CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Venezuelans turned out Sunday to vote on whether to approve broad constitutional changes that would bolster President Hugo Chavez's embrace of socialism and grant an indefinite extension of his eligibility to serve as president.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 16 million Venezuelans eligible to vote actually did so, but the president of the National Electoral Counsel, Tibisay Lucena, said the process "shows the entire world that we are a democratic country."

In Caracas, Chavez -- clad in his trademark red shirt and cradling his grandson -- made the sign of the cross and voted, then took his paper ballot and placed it in a box.

"For me, it's a very happy day," he said.

He dipped his right pinky in ink, collected his paper receipt from the voting machine and then gave an uncharacteristically short talk with the news media.

"Let's wait for the results tonight," he told reporters. "We'll accept them, whatever they may be."

Chavez called Venezuela's electoral system "one of the most transparent in the world," and said its voting machines are among "the most modern of the world."