Ecuador's electoral council calls for local elections on November 29

The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador has officially announced that local elections and elections for the Citizen Participation and Social Control Council (CPCCS) will take place on November 29. This electoral process will involve more than 13.8 million eligible voters.

Citizens over 18 years old, as well as individuals deprived of liberty without a final conviction, are called to vote. Facultative voting is extended to Ecuadorians aged 16 to 18, those over 65, active members of the Armed Forces and National Police, people with disabilities, and illiterate individuals. Additionally, foreigners legally residing in Ecuador for at least five years and registered on the electoral roll, aged 16 and above, can also participate.

The elected officials will include 23 provincial prefects and vice-prefects, 222 mayors, 909 urban council members with their respective deputies, and 457 rural council members with their deputies. Furthermore, 4,131 principal members of rural parish boards and their deputies will be chosen, along with seven councilors for the CPCCS.

Candidate registration will be conducted online from August 2 to August 17. The CNE has committed to ensuring political participation for women and youth, stipulating that 50% of single- and multi-member lists must be headed by women, and at least 25% of candidates must be young people.

Electoral campaigns are scheduled from November 12 to November 26. The CNE will organize 45 mandatory electoral debates across jurisdictions with over 100,000 voters, including 21 for prefectures and 24 for mayoralties, to promote informed voting. Voting for individuals deprived of liberty will occur on November 26, and for the 'vote at home' beneficiaries on November 27. The general voting day is set for November 29, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time. The CNE advanced the election date from February 14, 2027, to November 29, 2026, citing the potential for heavy rains and floods during the originally scheduled period.