In Venezuela’s upcoming presidential election on July 28, incumbent Nicolás Maduro appears on the ballot 13 times, representing multiple political groups, making his image the most prominent among the 38 photos of candidates. The ballot’s layout features Maduro in the entire first row, while his nine challengers, including main contender Edmundo González Urrutia, are scattered across the remaining spaces.

This electoral setup highlights the complexities facing Venezuelan voters. Maduro’s dominance on the ballot is a result of Venezuela’s electoral rules, which allow candidates’ pictures to appear as many times as the number of supporting parties. González, the opposition’s hope, appears three times, while Luis Martínez, seen as a government ally, shows up six times.

The election comes amid Venezuela’s prolonged economic crisis and political tension. Over 17 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote, but only about 69,000 of the 4 million Venezuelans abroad met the stringent requirements to vote overseas.

Voters like Sonia Guevara find the ballot confusing, especially with opposition candidates appearing close to government loyalists. This confusion is exacerbated by the use of similar colors and symbols by different parties, making it harder for voters to distinguish between them.

Laura Dib of WOLA emphasizes the challenge for the opposition, which lacks access to official media to educate voters. Additionally, last-minute candidate substitutions could result in null votes if changes are not reflected on the ballots.

Voters, like Francisco Maldonado, stress the need for caution when voting, akin to the care taken at an ATM, to avoid mistakes. The stakes are high, as the election could either extend Maduro’s rule or bring significant political change.