Ecuador introduces remote voting for overseas citizens in early parliamentary elections

Ecuador has rolled out digital voting for its citizens living abroad during its early general elections, allowing them to choose a new government and National Assembly, as announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

José Cabrera, a member of the CNE, remarked during the launch in Quito that the initiative ensures the voting rights of the expatriate Ecuadorians securely and engagingly, in the presence of observers.

The digital voting system enables 409,250 Ecuadorians abroad, who registered, to cast their votes using devices like computers, tablets, or phones.

As per the CNE, the voters will be spread across 101 electoral zones exclusively using this digital method, introduced considering the tight electoral schedule.

The launch of overseas digital voting came just before the commencement of the electoral day in Ecuador on August 20, which will last ten hours.

The country has been observing an electoral silence since the previous Friday, reflecting upon the choices and enforcing a ban on alcohol sales and consumption.

Additionally, an extensive security operation involving over 100,000 police and military personnel is in place.

The elections follow President Guillermo Lasso’s decision on May 17 to invoke the “crossed death” constitutional provision, dissolving the National Assembly and initiating early general elections amidst political trials in the single-chamber Parliament.

The victor of these elections will serve until May 2025, aligning with Lasso’s original presidential term end.