Hundreds of Venezuelans gathered in Fort Myers to support their country, casting votes in a highly consequential presidential election.
The election could lead to a shift in politics if former ambassador Edmundo González wins, or current president Nicolas Maduro's presidency could be extended.
President Nicolas Maduro's diminished over the 11 years of his presidency, due to an economic crisis that forced millions of Venezuelans to leave over the past decade.
González is representing the Unitary Platform, campaigning with former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado. Their campaign promises an economy that will lure back the millions of Venezuelans who have immigrated out of the country.
The future of Venezuela weighs heavily on Sunday's election. Many hope to someday return to Venezuela, and the results of Sunday's presidential election could determine that answer.
"Unlike other elections, other times, at this moment, we are so clear and so sure that change has already arrived, because before we felt that change was coming because we saw it as a light at the end of the tunnel," Daniela Peña said.
Peña and her family organized the rally in Fort Myers Sunday, along Colonial Boulevard and McGregor Boulevard. Their goal is to support the hundreds of Venezuelans who immigrated to southwest Florida as a result of economic turmoil.
"We expect change, absolute change. And it's not just that we expect it, we see it, people are motivated to change, people are determined to end this 25-year tyranny. And well, we hope to celebrate," Venezuelan immigrant Juan David Peña said. "Venezuela continues to live within us and we will always fight for that people to be free and today we will achieve freedom in Venezuela."
As of August 2023, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014.
Renata Castro, founder of Immigration firm USA 4 ALL said the United States saw a seismic change precipitated even further by the pandemic.
"The COVID pandemic, the number of Venezuelans, professionals, individuals with master's and doctorates who lost everything in Venezuela and just decided it was no longer safe from even a humanitarian standpoint," Castro said. "Not only from a violence standpoint to remain in Venezuela and decided that the well-being of their families should come first and foremost."
According to the Associated Press, a nationwide poll conducted last month by the Venezuela-based research firm Delphos showed that roughly a fourth of people are thinking about migrating, primarily for economic reasons.
Of those thinking about leaving Venezuela, about 47% said an electoral win by the opposition would make them stay. An improved economy would keep about the same number of people in their home country.
"They are in unison when they say they miss Venezuela and they wish the situation was different. And if it wasn't for the dire political situation in Venezuela, they would be back home, living the life that they really want to live, as opposed to living certain economic and legal uncertainties in the United States," Castro said.
In January 2019, Maduro announced Venezuela was breaking ties with the United States and ordered the closure of embassies and consulates in the United States.
Maria Corina Machado addressed Venezuelans immigrants Sunday “who are anxious to return,” Machado said today, “that reunion is very close."
As for Venezuelans staying on asylum in the United States, Castro said it is important to remember that any political change in Venezuela will take a while to reverberate.
"It's very important that you remain with your case, unless there's a major shift in legislation in the United States, because even if we have a different outcome on the election in Venezuela today, I would believe and anticipate a lot of turmoil and protests and even some challenges in the transition of power if Maduro is not to be reelected president in Venezuela today," Castro said.