Venezuela's Maduro wins presidential vote - election board

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is surrounded by supporters as he speaks during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro comfortably won re-election in a controversial vote on Sunday, the election board said, though his main rivals both declared the poll illegitimate due to alleged widespread irregularities.

Turnout at the election was just 46.1 percent, the election board said, way down from the 80 percent registered at the last presidential vote in 2013, due to a boycott by Venezuela's mainstream opposition.

As results came out, Maduro supporters let off fireworks in poor Caracas neighborhoods and danced to Latin pop around the downtown Miraflores presidential palace. He took 5.8 million votes, versus 1.8 for his nearest rival Henri Falcon, the board said.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (L) stands with supporters during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

(Reporting by Andreina Aponte and Luc Cohen; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Angus Berwick and Paul Tait)

Confetti falls as supporters walk up to greet Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (center, R, in red) during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (C) stands with supporters during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro celebrate the results of the election, outside of Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro stands with supporters during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures during a campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/FIle photo

People stand in front of a campaign graffiti of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Adriana Loureiro

A man sits in front of a campaign graffiti of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela May 6, 2018. Picture taken May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Adriana Loureiro

People walk near campaign posters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela May 8, 2018. Picture taken May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Adriana Loureiro

Men walk past a campaign mural of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela May 8, 2018. Picture taken May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Adriana Loureiro

A campaign billboard of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is seen on the roof of a housing building in Caracas, Venezuela May 8, 2018. Picture taken May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Adriana Loureiro