New York’s Venezuelan community is mobilizing a record voter turnout for Sunday’s recall referendum on the nation’s leftist president, Hugo Chavez.

Before the nation’s unrest began in 2002, 750 people were registered to vote at the Venezuelan Consulate; by midweek, there were about 1,800 citizens registered, the Venezuelan embassy said.

Voters, most of whom are strong opponents of Mr. Chavez, are expected to begin lining up in front of the consulate at dawn and to come from as far as Pittsburgh and Rochester.

The increased interest reflects a growing Venezuelan community in the New York area, which community organizers place at more than 20,000, and the extremely charged nature of the election.

The referendum will decide whether after a failed coup attempt and four strikes, Venezuela’s opposition can oust Mr. Chavez. The populist Mr. Chavez, who staged an unsuccessful coup in 1992, successfully ran on an anti-corruption platform in 1999. Since he has taken office the economy has crashed and the state has dealt with national strikes, demonstrations, and unchecked violence.

In order to force a recall, the opposition needs more voters than elected Mr. Chavez, or about 3.8 million voters out of an estimated 13.9 million, to vote for a recall.

A few months ago this seemed likely 696 1342 758 1354to be an easy victory for the opposition, but Mr. Chavez has surged in popularity recently and polls from both sides have often been too close to call.

The opposition-dominated local community reacted angrily when the National Election Committee of Venezuela decided on July 27 not to permit Venezuelans who are illegal residents in other countries to vote.

“It’s completely illegal because in our constitution and in our law we should all have the same rights,” said Jorge Combellas, a leader of11abril.com,a group organized to mobilize voters and coordinate activities for the opposition in New York. “When you are voting here they should not ask about your status in another country. There’s no sense to do that.”

Mr. Combellas also said many more individuals wanted to vote than are counted in the official number. “Between March and November, 700 registered but most were not included in the data,” Mr. Combellas said, adding the consulate had confirmed his findings. Calls to the consulate were not returned.

An owner of the East Village’s Caracas Arepas Bar, Aristides Barrios, said he is also concerned the government will stymie the turnout to limit New York Venezuelans’ influence.

“They know that mostly the people who are here are in the opposition,” said Mr. Barrios, who moved to New York 4 1/2 years ago. “Mostly the Venezuelan people who are here left the country because of the situation.”