After casting his ballot in "23 de Enero" parish, western Caracas, President Hugo Chávez reposed hope in acknowledgment by all the country's sectors of the results to be provided by the National Electoral Council (CNE), "whatever they are."

"I am certain that the results will be ready in early hours, given the Venezuelan electoral system, which is one of the most modern and transparent in the world. And then, as soon as the CNE releases the results, we will accept them no matter what they will be," he said.

Chávez recalled that some minority groups made an appeal to dismiss the results, but he said, "I am certain that we, Venezuelans, will continue on our way to build the 21st century Venezuela."

He added that, regardless of the outcome, the polling day "means a gain for the Venezuelan homeland, for Venezuelan democracy, for the construction of a true democracy, where there is intense debate."

The president noted also that no national referendum had been held before 1999. After the referendum to approve the 1999 Constitution "a democratic, increasingly accelerated, career on consultation and participation set off."