Ecuador Closes Candidate Registration for Sectional Elections; Over 39,000 Apply

Ecuador has concluded its candidate registration period for the upcoming sectional elections, with the deadline set at 6:00 PM on Monday, August 17, 2026. Citizens will head to the polls on November 29 to elect mayors, prefects, council members, and members of parish boards across the country.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported a substantial number of registrations, with a total of 39,893 principal and substitute candidates nationwide. This includes 1,153 candidates for mayoral positions, 122 for prefect and vice-prefect roles, and thousands more for various council and parish board seats. The province of Pichincha alone saw 465 candidates complete the pre-election stage, with 287 ultimately registering.

In Quito, the capital, nine candidates are vying for the mayoral seat, representing a diverse range of political parties and movements. Similarly, seven candidates have registered to compete for the prefecture of Pichincha. The registration process was conducted exclusively online through a dedicated system managed by the CNE.

Following this registration phase, the electoral process moves to the review stage. The 24 Provincial Electoral Boards will now examine and verify the submitted documentation. Political entities will have the opportunity to file objections or appeals with the Electoral Contentious Tribunal (TCE) within stipulated deadlines. Candidacies are not considered final until this verification and appeals process is complete.