Venezuelans are taking part in an unofficial referendum on government plans for a new assembly that could change the constitution.
Critics of the new assembly say it could herald dictatorship. Voters are also being asked if they want fresh elections before Socialist President Nicolas Maduro`s term ends in 2018.
Mr Maduro says the poll is not legitimate.
Nearly 100 people died in government-opposition unrest since April.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said on Friday that Venezuelans participating in the unofficial referendum would be voting for the country`s freedom.
The third question on the ballot paper asks voters if they want the armed forces to defend the current constitution.
Mr Maduro has called on Venezuelans to approve the constituent assembly in an official vote on 30 July, saying it was the only way to help Venezuela out of its economic and political crisis.
He has said that a new constitution would "neutralise" the opposition and defeat "coup-plotters" and thereby promote peace in Venezuela.
Opposition leaders fear that the process of setting up a new constituent assembly and rewriting the constitution would almost certainly delay this year`s regional elections and next year`s presidential election.
They also fear that the constituent assembly would further weaken the National Assembly, Venezuela`s opposition-controlled legislative body.
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