Venezuela Votes

Venezuela is voting in municipal elections and it once again holds the future of Hugo Chavez's socialist agenda in the crosshairs.

Chavez has said the vote — held one year after he suffered his first electoral defeat — could decide "the future of the revolution, the future of socialism and also the future of Hugo Chavez."

Early turnout was high as Venezuelans formed long lines to cast ballots for governors, mayors and other local officials.

After a decade in office, Chavez still enjoys widespread popularity and has maintained control of most local posts. But last year's defeat of his attempt to abolish term limits has energized the opposition, which has sought to capitalize on complaints about rampant crime, corruption and inflation.

The vote could either hand Chavez another setback or help him lay the groundwork to extend his rule beyond 2013, when his six-year term ends.

Chavez said after casting his ballot that Venezuela's democracy is "demonstrating its strength once again" and that its automated voting system is one of the most "transparent, quickest, most secure in the world."

He urged all to respect the outcome and said, "We're prepared to recognize any result."

Pre-election polls showed Chavez's candidates leading in a majority of races, while the opposition was ahead or in tight races in several of Venezuela's most populous states.

Aquiles Vera, a 47-year-old construction worker who voted in a Caracas slum, said he supported Chavez's candidates and believed the president's ability to stay in office was at stake.

Let's just say I'm not exactly trusting Chavez to keep his word that he'll abide by the outcome of the vote if it goes against him. He's already shown that he's more than willing to try and circumvent the vote by attempting to push through laws to extend the term of his office, and impose his socialist agenda regardless of the damage it has already done to the Venezuelan economy.