Bolivia: Referendum Coverage on Twitter

[Joanne98]

As the polls close across Bolivia for the Constitutional Referendum vote, many of the country's users of Twitter have been hard at work sending messages about their experiences from their cities. In order to centralize the information, they are using the #referendum tag.

Throughout the day, many tweeted after returning from their polling place and reporting on the action. Rolando Espinoza (@darkrho) writes about the opposition youth group in Cochabamba, who were present at the school where he voted:

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/01/25/bolivia-referendum-coverage-on-twitter/

[Joanne98]

1. It's in Spanish...

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=referendum


TestyAccount: Bolivia: Referendum Coverage on Twitter - Global Voices Online: Global Voices OnlineBolivia: Referendum Coverage.. http://tinyurl.com/cfbnk7 (expand)
2 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
pb_twit: Bolivia: Referendum Coverage on Twitter - Global Voices Online: Global Voices OnlineBolivia: Refe.. http://tinyurl.com/caxo82 (expand)
3 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
mrduranch: RT @asaavedra: Como parece que no hay twittpolls para emitir mi voto virtual, lo hare e Bolivianos Globales http://is.gd/hc3L (expand) #referendum
13 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
asaavedra: Como parece que no hay twittpolls para emitir mi voto virtual, lo hare en el blog de Bolivianos Globales http://is.gd/hc3L (expand) #referendum
14 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
latindemocracy: Jorge Alvarado, of Bolivian ambassador rank, practicing as Venezuelan dpl mission driver during constitutional referendum.
15 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
latindemocracy: Bolivian Govt claims constitutional referendum carried out under normal circumstances. Opposition claims voting booths closed prior 2 vo ...
18 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
latindemocracy: Bolivian official of ambassador rank, reported by local press as Venezuela embassy mission during constitutional reform referendum vote.
23 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
latindemocracy: "Indelible" ink used in Bolivia constitutonal referendum, Argentine & Cuban origin, rinses off finger, as reported by local radio.
26 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
mrduranch: nueve horas de cobertura on-line ininterrumpida del #referendum en Bolivia laconstituyente.org grupoapoyo.org alminuto.com.bo
29 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
mrduranch: RT @eddysan: @mrduranch tu lo dijiste, estaban :P, yo tambien vi muchos autos, en la arce / tomaste fotos #referendum
31 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
mrduranch: @wpimentel apostamos a que esta votacion se vuelve un chueque en blnaco para el gobierno ? #referendum
33 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet · Show ConversationHide Conversation

maqex: El Referendum hoy dia: Importante para el posicionamiento axiologico de los mas de 350 millones de indigenas en el mundo
34 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
wpimentel: @mrduranch no puede ser un cheque en blanco pq es un referendum de constitucion no un revocatorio
38 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet · Show ConversationHide Conversation

referendum_bo: Bolivia constitutional referendum, viewed linked 2 Venezuela's Chavez funding denounced; government campaign & p.. http://tinyurl.com/b6tv74 (expand)
41 minutes ago · Reply · View Tweet
latindemocracy: Bolivia constitutional referendum, viewed linked 2 Venezuela's Chavez funding denounced; government campaign & project donations 2 popul ...
about 1 hour ago · Reply · View Tweet

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=referendum

[Judi Lynn]

2. Just a quick addition. Will check back here later tonight when I get some time.

Exit polls: Bolivians approve new constitution
13 minutes ago

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Exit polls show Bolivian voters backing President Evo Morales' proposed constitution granting greater power to the country's indigenous majority.

Surveys conducted by two Bolivian television stations put support for the new charter at 60 percent or slightly higher.

An unofficial quick count of actual votes conducted by a private polling firm shows the new constitution winning by 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent, with just over 60 percent of votes counted. But ballots from heavily pro-Morales rural areas had yet to be counted.

Early returns from Sunday's referendum also show that a wide margin of voters favor placing a limit on landownership at 5,000 hectares (12,400 acres), rather than 10,000 hectares 24,700 acres.

More:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3QHuX_ow0-OQPGXFDavvh0So-SgD95UEN1O0

[Peace Patriot]

3. Here's what Arcos posted

Source: Reuters

LA PAZ, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Bolivia's new leftist constitution was approved on Sunday with the support of 55 percent of voters, according to a quick count for ATB television that earlier had said the result was too close to call.

The pollster conducting the quick count said he was projecting a win based on a tally of 80 percent of his sample. Two other broadcasters said their exit polls showed an even wider win for the constitution. (Reporting by Terry Wade; Editing by Fiona Ortiz)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3706345

[Peace Patriot]

4. Judi, it looks like your news (60% YES) is later than my news.

That makes sense, because the Morales districts were coming in later. The two broadcasters in the article I posted who said it was higher (than 55%), but didn't mention a figure, are probably the same two mentioned in yours--giving more complete exit polls results saying 60%--but they hadn't finalized their exit polls yet, when the article I posted was published. If 55% is from the eastern provinces (where anti-Morales sentiment is higher), that is significant good news. I would expect it to do well in the pro-Morales provinces.

I hope it wins big--over 60%. This needs a very decisive victory for the peace and well-being of Bolivia.

[Judi Lynn]

5. The final numbers won't be known for several days, but if the same people were running the polls

who've controlled them previously, I'd have to imagine they are far more in favor of the new constitution than they are being told. In a way, it's almost a miracle it was ever acknowledged Evo Morales won at all!

I noticed, like you, that the results from the anti-Morales sectors were the first publicly announced.

Found this article in the L.A. Times a short time ago, and love the expressions on the faces in the photo:

Bolivia constitution is set to pass

http://www.latimes.com.nyud.net:8090/media/photo/2009-01/44702703.jpg

MARTIN ALIPAZ, EPA
Crowds gather in the capital, La Paz, to celebrate after early returns
showed the new constitution passing. Observers expect President Evo
Morales to dissolve Congress and call for early elections.

Exit polls show voters backing changes that give more rights to indigenous groups and let President Evo Morales seek another consecutive term.
By Chris Kraul
January 26, 2009

Reporting from La Paz, Bolivia -- Voters appeared to have handed Bolivian President Evo Morales a resounding victory Sunday, with exit polls showing they had approved a new constitution that will advance indigenous rights, strengthen state control over natural resources and permit him to seek another term.

Morales addressed a cheering crowd in the plaza before the presidential palace here Sunday night to claim victory and declare that "Bolivia has been re-founded" and that "neoliberalism has been defeated."

According to exit polls by two television stations and a political consulting firm, at least 56% of voters approved the 411-article constitution. The final count of votes is not expected for several days.

~snip~
"This is a great day because we never counted before and now we will," said law student Jenny Marca as she stood in the compound of Abel Iturralde School with her mother, who was dressed in traditional derby hat, shawl and hooped skirt.

Civil engineer Luciana Vargas, also of El Alto, said the previous constitution had to be changed because it favored the rich "just like all our previous presidents favored them."

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bolivia26-2009jan26,0,6365181.story

Those people look so satisfied, and relieved, don't they?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Bolivians approve new constitution

Posted on Sunday, 01.25.09
Bolivians approve new constitution

BY TYLER BRIDGES
McClatchy News Service

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- President Evo Morales took a major step toward creating a socialist state that empowers the indigenous majority when 60 percent of Bolivians approved a new constitution on Sunday, according to television exit poll results.

The new charter also allows Morales to seek re-election to a five-year term in December.

The country's first self-identified indigenous president, Morales begins the race as the heavy favorite to remain in power until 2014.

Vice President Alvaro Garcia said Sunday's victory marked a watershed because it essentially would end the sometimes violent debates that have wracked this politically turbulent country since 2000.

''There will still be conflict and tension,'' Garcia told McClatchy in an exclusive interview Sunday afternoon in the Gold Salon at the presidential palace. ``But from here on out, this country will be governed by three principles: equality, autonomy and a strong state presence in the economy. From here on out, we will only debate these principles on the margin.''

Morales had sought the new constitution even before he became president three years ago, as part of his plan to carry out a social revolution in power.

As president, Morales has ''nationalized'' foreign companies by sharply raising their taxes and used the windfall to establish pensions for the elderly and sharply increase state spending on public works.

~snip~
Light-skinned Bolivians have held political and economic power for generations in a country where 60 percent of the population -- nearly all of them indigenous -- live on $2 per day or less.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/872148.html

[Joanne98]

7. Here's some exit polling numbers!

La Paz, 25 January (ABI) -- The new Political Constitution of the State (CPE) was approved this Sunday with 61.96% of the votes in the constitutional referendum, according to the exit poll results broadcast by Televisión Boliviana (TVB), Channel 7.

The No vote, on the other hand, obtained 36.52%. Blank and null votes together constituted 1.51%.

The Yes vote triumphed in six departments: La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosí, Tarija, and Pando.

Meanwhile, the No vote prevailed in three departments: Santa Cruz, Beni, and Chuquisaca.

Based on comparative departmental data, the unofficial results for the Yes and No votes show the following differences:

The margin of victory was the largest in Potosí: 78.97% said Yes and 20.92% No.

The margin of victory was also huge in La Paz, with 78.41% voting Yes versus 20.46% No.

In Cochabamba, those who voted Yes added up to 64.83% and those who voted No 35.07%.

The voters who supported Yes constiuted 63.52% in Oruro; the No supporters there were 29.17%.

One of the surprises was found in Tarija, where Yes won with 52.84% against 43.34% for No.

Another surprising unofficial result, despite the narrow margin, emerged in Pando, with 45.87% for Yes versus 44.40% for No.

The text of the new constitution was rejected by the largest margin in Santa Cruz, with 60.23% of the votes for No against 39.35% for Yes.

Continued>>>
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/bolivia260109.html

[Peace Patriot]

9. Yeah, the Pando province jumped out at me when I saw it in the article.

Morales (YES on the Constitution) won in Pando! Narrowly (45.87% YES vs. 44.40% NO), but still. That's where the massacre occurred. It's one of the most entrenched fascist regions.

Tarija is also a very big surprise--another supposed fascist stronghold. 52.84% YES, 43.34% NO. An almost 10% margin for YES.

Evo Morales must be very pleased today! What an amazing victory for unity, sanity and progressive government, not just throughout the country, but in these purportedly anti-Morales areas.

And almost 62% of the voter overall, in the country. A stunning victory!

This is also a victory for continent-wide integration and social justice, and the new South American 'common market,' UNASUR. It was UNASUR's intervention--led by Brazil, Argentina and Chile--which created conditions for this peaceful conclusion to the wretched Bushwhack plot for civil war in Bolivia that was unfolding in September. They have each other's backs. Unity is working. This is a very good omen in many respects--but I am especially thinking of the rest of the Bushwhack scheme--splitting up Venezuela and Ecuador and grabbing control of the northern oil reserves. The peaceful resolution in Bolivia, UNASUR's role in bringing it about, and the size of this vote speak to a determination of South America's leaders to defend their sovereignty, and their ability, at long last, to pull together on it. There is nothing they cannot accomplish if they stick together like this. Even the biggest problems--such as the continued fascist violence and extremely corrupt government in Colombia, and the imperial intentions of the U.S. "war on drugs"--can be solved. Poverty can be reversed. Prosperity can be achieved. The environment can be saved. And resource-rich, culturally rich Latin America can provide a peaceful, democratic model of social justice for the world.

[Mika]

8. Thank you all for posting this good news.

Another win for the Axis of Good.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Thanks for the stats, Joanne98. Wonderful, wonderful news. n/t