Voting in presidential and parliamentary elections has begun in Ecuador. Polling stations will be open until 05:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. GMT), Report informs via TASS.
Incumbent President Daniel Noboa is running for the main office again. In addition to him, 16 other politicians have joined the race. Noboa’s main rival is former lawmaker Luisa Gonzalez who held various offices in the government of ex-President Rafael Correa (in office 2007-2017).
According to a poll published by Ipsos, 45.5% are ready to vote for Noboa, while Gonzalez is supported by 31.3%.
To win the election a candidate needs to receive an absolute majority of votes or at least 40%, but on the condition that the candidate is separated from the nearest rival by at least 10 percentage points. If none of the candidates secures the required support on February 9, then the country will hold a second round of elections on April 13.
Ecuadorian citizens are also to elect 151 deputies to the National Assembly (unicameral parliament).
The vote will take place under conditions of heightened security measures due to the crisis that the republic has been experiencing for the past few years. Before the elections, Noboa ordered the closure of the country’s borders from February 8 to 10 and to strengthen military presence in the border areas in the south, north and in seaports.
