Voting in crucial presidential elections begins in Ecuador

Electoral stations opened at 7 a.m. this morning throughout Ecuador, where citizens will vote to choose a president in a ballot between the current president, Daniel Noboa, and Luisa González, of the Citizen Revolution (RC).

An official act this Sunday, at the headquarters of the National Electoral Council (CNE), in Quito, led by electoral authorities and the Executive left the second round of the elections inaugurated under a strict security scheme.

Noboa, president and candidate for re -election, did not attend the ceremony, nor did he do so on February 9 at the event of the first round of elections.

The Minister of Government, José de la Gasca, was the one who represented the Executive at the ceremony and, in his speech, he summoned to go to the polls "without fear and with the security of deciding without pressure any of any of any corrupt or mafia official of the neighborhood who believes to have the right to intimidate them."

The official spoke of national reconciliation and said that the forces of the order have been deployed for a safe vote, a statement that comes after the controversial declaration of the state of exception, a measure that has caused concern of different sectors.

The head of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, was in charge of inaugurating the electoral day in the event, which was attended by ministers, the high police and military command, as well as observers, among other guests.

Atamint rejected complaints of possible fraud and reiterated the prohibition of photos to ballots, a decision adopted at the request of the Government and questioned by various political actors, citizens and observers.

"This restriction is not an obstacle, but direct protection to citizen will since it avoids practices such as the purchase of votes, coercion or any form of undue pressure on the voter," the official defended. He recalled that this second presidential return coincides with the teacher's day in Ecuador and the Catholic celebration of Palm Sunday.

He pointed out that 94,861 delegates of political organizations will be present at the almost 42 thousand tables to verify the process, whose results said they will be transmitted in real time.

He also added that they have the accompaniment of observers, of them 1,80 nationals and 480 international.

Ivonne Coloma, president of the Contentious Electoral Court, who affirmed that this institution will guarantee respect for popular will, also intervened at the ceremony.

The elections are scheduled until 17:00 (local time), when all the enclosures will close and the scrutiny will begin.

As Atamaint announced, the first data could be available from 6:00 p.m. (local time) approximately, although until after 9:00 p.m. (local time) is that there could be a definitive trend and, if there is not, it will be necessary to wait to count all the votes.

The polarized scenario and concerns for decisions such as the Exception State Decree, mark this key electoral process for the future of Ecuador, where the ruling defends its permanence and the left, represented by the RC, seeks a change for the country after years of multiple crises.