(15 Feb 2009) SHOTLIST
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Pan of main wall along street in Petare, city east of Caracas which is now part of urban area of Caracas, AUDIO: music playing to wake up people to vote
2. Person dancing to music, running past hot dog stand on street
3. Wide of street with fireworks going off, two people on motorbike in foreground, tilt up of fireworks
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Mary Gonzalez, Caracas resident:
"Fellow countrymen, we all need to go out and vote, to give another demonstration to show that we are democratic here, a demonstration to the world to show that in Venezuela democracy does exist, total democracy. We all must vote, don't stay at home."
5. Back shot of man lighting fireworks
6. Wide of fireworks
7. Pan of people queuing outside polling station
8. Man having breakfast, sitting in front of queue
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jesus (Surname not given), voter:
"(I hope everything will be) calm and that the country wins, for the benefit of everyone."
10. Pan of people queuing outside polling station
11. Close up of sign outside polling station
STORYLINE
Venezuelans were queuing early on Sunday waiting for the polls to open so they could cast their vote in a referendum to decide a constitutional amendment that could allow President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely.
In Petare, a city east of Caracas which is now part of the urban area of Caracas, people were woken by the sounds of loud music and fireworks, to encourage citizens to go out and vote.
The referendum is on whether or not to end limits on the term a president can serve, a prospect Chavez says is key to his socialist project but that critics warn would distort democracy.
Trucks with speakers blaring fanfare music drove through the capital in the early hours of the morning and fireworks were set off in public squares.
Polls opened at 5:30 am local time (1000 GMT), but queues had formed several hours before dawn outside polling stations.
A high voter turnout is expected.
The referendum vote, which has divided the country, is expected to be close with both sides warning against complacency and encouraging their supporters to head to the ballot box.
Both sides have campaigned hard with several opposition protests and pro-government events in recent weeks.
Chavez says he needs to be able to run for election again when his current term expires in 2012 so that he can consolidate his socialist revolution.
Opposition supporters say that it will effectively allow him to be president for life and criticise the government's failure to deal with rising inflation, crime and corruption.
Polls show Chavez still maintains a high level of popularity but analysts say the vote will be close.
Without a constitutional amendment, Chavez will have to leave office in 2013.
He lost a broader referendum in December 2007 that also sought to abolish presidential term limits, and says nothing is stopping him from trying again if he loses this time.

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