Venezuelan Opposition Holds 'Popular Referendum' organized as a citizen's initiative against Maduro's Policies.
Caracas, July 16.─ Venezuela's opposition coallition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) is holding a so-called popular referendum, unauthorized by the government, against the policies of President Nicolas Maduro this Suday.
The vote is organized by the opposition coallition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), not only in all districts in Venezuela but in all 85 countries where Venezuelan citizens reside.
The ballots include three questions on whether the voters reject and do not recognize the presidential decision to call the Constituent Assembly without gaining the support of the Venezuelans in a proper referendum, whether the voters demand the country's Armed Forces to protect the 1999 Constitution and the decisions of the National Assembly, as well as whether they agree on holding free elections and creating a national unity government.
According the Venezuelan opposition, more than 2,000 polling stations opened across the country. Venezuelans can also cast their ballots in 85 foreign countries.Pictures circulated on social media showed people queuing at polling stations.
Venezuelan migrants, many of whom fled economic crisis and rampant crime in their homeland, are voting in droves in hundreds of cities around the world at the time of writing these lines in an unofficial referendum organized as a citizen's initiative to challenge President Nicolas Maduro and his authoritarian policies. 
With improvised polling stations in more than 80 countries, the Venezuelan diaspora is seeking to delegitimize Maduro's plans to rewrite the constitution after three months of anti-government protests that have led to nearly 100 deaths under cruel military repression.
In central Madrid, home to a significant Venezuelan population, some 30,000 Venezuelans were expected to cast their ballot throughout the day, while a strong turnout was also expected in Venezuelan-expat hubs like Miami, Bogota, and Panama City, according to the opposition. The first groups voting during this Sunday were reported from Australia.
The country's National Electoral Council said that results of this referendum would not have legal force as only the electoral authorities have the right to hold such events. The opposition in response referred to Article 71 of the Constitution, which allows holding consultative polls by initiative of its citizens.