Ecuador tests logistics for presidential elections

Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) conducted a simulation today, testing all technical and operational aspects ahead of the second round of the presidential elections next Sunday, April 13.
 
Electoral authorities tested the functioning of the Voting Boards, as well as the results processing and transmission system.

They also evaluated the implementation of the risk and contingency plan in case of any eventuality.

The head of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, indicated that this exercise analyzed the scanning, transmission, validation, and publication times of the tally sheets.

The official stated that the schedule is progressing normally and, so far, 14 provincial delegations already have the electoral packages in their warehouses under the custody of the Armed Forces.

Atamaint also indicated that they are not ruling out changes to voting locations due to the current rainy season, which has left 33 dead, more than 135,000 affected, and caused extensive damage.

He warned that the changes could be announced even the day before the vote, “because with the weather, we can’t predict in advance.”

For attorney Joffre Campaña, this strategy of moving polling stations at the last minute serves to create chaos, especially in places where they know the candidate Luisa González, of the Citizens’ Revolution, will be “sweeping.”

“In some cases, they will change polling places; in others, they will suspend the process. They know Luisa will win, and that’s why they are already preparing for fraud,” Campaña warned. Almost at the end of the practical exercise, CNE member Elena Nájera asked observers from political organizations and international observers to be on the lookout for possible irregularities and expressed doubts about the independence and impartiality of the electoral process.

On Sunday, April 13, more than 13.4 million Ecuadorians are called to the polls to choose between the current president, Daniel Noboa, who is running for reelection, and González, who are proposing two politically, economically, and socially antagonistic projects.

The campaign phase continues until Thursday, April 10, and both candidates are seeking votes, as the latest published polls predict a close race.

González has repeatedly denounced the existence of a “tilted field” and criticized the CNE for not being an impartial arbiter.