First modification:
This Saturday the electoral silence rules throughout the country. In the process on Sunday, February 5, more than 13 million Ecuadorians will elect provincial prefects, mayors, urban and rural councilors, among other public offices. At the same time, an eight-question referendum promoted by Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso will be voted on. The campaign process was marked by work on social networks. In Ecuador voting is mandatory, whoever does not attend to vote can be fined.
The electoral roll of Ecuador is called to the polls. 13.4 million people are summoned this Sunday, February 5, to elect 4,109 members of parish councils, 443 rural councilors, 864 urban councilors, 221 mayors, 23 province prefects and 7 councilors of the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (CPCCS). ).
In addition, eight issues will be resolved that will change the Constitution of Ecuador regarding democracy, institutions or security, among other aspects. Several of the questions have sparked debate in Ecuadorian society.
The beginning of the electoral process took place last Thursday, when more than 5,000 people deprived of liberty without an executed conviction were able to exercise their right.
A day later, on Friday, people over 50 years of age or who have a disability exercised their right, in what is known as “Vote at Home”. Some 630 people were registered in this modality.
📢6️⃣3️⃣0️⃣ beneficiaries of the #VoteAtHome they exercised their right to vote, on February 3rd.
🔴 This modality of suffrage was exercised in 180 mobile receiving boards.
✅ We assume the commitment to bring democracy closer to the entire territory 🇪🇨.#EcuadorVote2023 pic.twitter.com/JGTPXlvLvg
— cnegobec (@cnegobec) February 4, 2023
The constitutional referendum
Among the votes on Sunday is a referendum promoted by Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso that is condensed into eight questions. One of them refers to extradition: “Do you agree with allowing the extradition of Ecuadorians who have committed crimes related to transnational organized crime, through processes that respect rights and guarantees?”, reads the document that was will submit to popular vote.
Another issue to be decided will be the number of legislators in the National Assembly. “Do you agree with reducing the number of assembly members and that they be elected according to the following criteria: 1 assembly member per province and 1 additional provincial assembly member for every 250,000 inhabitants; 2 national assembly members for every million inhabitants; and 1 assembly member for every 500,000 inhabitants residing abroad?”, it can be read on the ballot.
The control of the followers of the political tents is also on the table. The number of members of the groups must be equivalent to 1.5% of the registered voters at the national level.
According to the referendum, the question will be: “Do you agree with demanding that political movements have a minimum number of affiliates equivalent to 1.5% of the electoral register of their jurisdiction and forcing them to keep a periodically audited register of their members?” by the National Electoral Council?
The environmental issue will also be on the list of the consultation, with the incorporation of a water incorporation subsystem to the National System of Protected Areas as well as the autonomy in the work of the General Prosecutor’s Office.
Little mobilization and a lot of activity on the networks
One of the particularities that this election has had is the role that social networks have played in getting the message to potential voters. Reaching the cell phones of citizens has been a constant in political competition.
Fear of ridicule was not an option. A candidate machine-gunning criminals and another dressed as a rapper were part of the messages to the youngest. Few massive acts were seen in the streets on this occasion.
The message went straight to the hands. The time of traditional rallies makes citizens see politicians as “the same as always.” Instead, the chances of listening more carefully to an ad on a phone are higher and cheaper.
A preview of the 2025 presidential election
In an analysis published by the EFE news agency, this electoral process “will become a barometer” for the 2025 presidential elections.
One of the analysts cited in the paper, César Ulloa, points out that the results in provinces such as Pichincha, Manabí, Guayas, Azuay and Santo Domingo are key when analyzing what would come by 2025. For example, if correísmo -movement of ex-president Rafael Correa- loses Manabí, it would lose its greatest stronghold, said the interviewee.
However, for another observer, Santiago Basabe, this process may indeed be a thermometer, but in nations where politics is seen to be “very volatile,” such as Ecuador, “in two years anything can happen,” he said. According to Basabe, “an ‘outsider’ can appear at any time” to change the forecasts, “he concluded.
Fines for not voting amid disinterest in the process
César Ulloa also stressed that the population arrives on the day of the vote with “enormous apathy.” For his part, Santiago Basabe stressed that he observes “a lot of annoyance with politics, which will explode sooner rather than later, possibly with the emergence “of a candidate from outside of politics or someone from politics who is an extremist of the right.” or left”.
In Ecuador, where voting is mandatory despite disaffection with public institutions, there are only five justifications or “causes to justify non-attendance” according to the Code of Democracy.
Voting is mandatory for people between the ages of 18 and 64. According to an article of the Code of Democracy, those who do not attend to vote will face a fine equivalent to 10% of a basic salary, which would represent about 45 dollars.
With EFE and local media
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