Venezuelans vote in unofficial referendum

(Vatican Radio) An unofficial poll about Venezuela's future, especially concerning  the proposed Constituent Assembly, is now underway. 

This polls asks three questions, namely...If voters reject the Constituent Assembly,  if they want Venezuela's Armed Forces to defend the Constitution as it stands, and if they want elections before President Nicolas Maduro's term expires next year.

Opposition leader and runner up in the Presidential Election Henrique Capriles  says voting in this poll is important for the Nation's Freedom.  More than two thousand polling stations nationwide are open.  President Nicolas Maduro is calling the poll illegal and meaningless. 

The Opposition plans and hopes that the Poll will reverse President Maduro's drive towards a Constituent Assembly,  which he announced on Mayday.  It's intended to neutralize the National Assembly which is a polítical thorn in his side.  He claims the Constituent Assembly  will return peace and stability to Venezuela, which has been shaken by more than three months of street protests.