Ecuador
South America · ec
Presidential republic with proportional national and provincial legislative elections and separately elected provincial, municipal, parish and citizen-participation authorities.
Profile last reviewed July 23, 2026
Ecuador automatically registers citizens from age 16. Voting is compulsory for most citizens aged 18 to 64 and optional for younger voters, people 65 and over, citizens abroad and specified groups. The independent National Electoral Council organizes voting and public counting; the Electoral Disputes Tribunal adjudicates electoral cases.
How voting works today
- Voting age
- 16 and over
- Voter registration
- Automatic
- Identification
- Photo ID required
- Compulsory voting
- Yes
- Postal voting
- Not available
- Early voting
- Restricted
- Online voting
- Not available
- Voting from abroad
- Restricted
The CNE builds the register from civil-registry data. Voters present an identity card, passport or consular identity document, even if expired when the photo and details remain legible. Voting is optional for ages 16–17, people 65 and over, citizens abroad, active security personnel, people with disabilities, illiterate voters and eligible foreign residents.
How the franchise changed
Every entry records a change in who could vote, or how — expansions, restrictions and procedural reforms alike.
- 1929Expansion
Ecuador became the first Latin American country to recognize women's national voting rights.
Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador - 1978Expansion
The transition constitution removed literacy as a condition for voting, broadening the franchise.
Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador - 2008Expansion
The constitution made voting optional from age 16, retained compulsory voting for most adults, enfranchised eligible foreigners after five years' residence and protected voting by people detained without a final conviction.
Rules governing overseas voting - 2026Reform
For the 2027-labelled local elections, the CNE moved polling to 29 November 2026 and opened party access to audits of the register, logistics, counting and result technology.
General audit plan for the 2027 local and CPCCS elections
Safeguards on the count
- Ballot type
- Paper ballots
- Post-election audit
- Ad hoc
- Election administration
- Independent commission
- Domestic observers
- Yes
- International observers
- Yes
Votes are publicly counted at polling boards. Political organizations may accredit auditors across the electoral cycle, and domestic and qualifying resident-foreign observers may seek accreditation. Electoral disputes go to the Electoral Disputes Tribunal.
Worth knowing
- The register for the 29 November 2026 election contains 13,827,643 voters: 13,331,335 in Ecuador and 496,308 abroad.CNE approves updated electoral register
- The election will choose 5,749 principal officeholders across provincial, municipal, parish and CPCCS contests, plus alternates.CNE updates urban and rural council constituencies
- In the 2025 presidential runoff, EU and OAS observers found no objective or documentary support for fraud allegations, while still documenting incumbent advantage and other reforms needed for a more level contest.EU Election Observation Mission Ecuador 2025 final report
Elections in the database
- 2026Ecuador 2027 Local and CPCCS ElectionsElection Watch
- 2025Ecuador 2025 Presidential Election
People
- Head of stateDaniel NoboaPresident of Ecuador
- Election officialJosé Cabrera ZuritaPresident of Ecuador's National Electoral Council
- Party leaderLuisa González
Sources
- Constitution and Democracy Code rules for voting abroad— National Electoral Council of Ecuador
- Accreditation for 2027 election observation— National Electoral Council of Ecuador
- CNE online-service FAQ— National Electoral Council of Ecuador
- CNE definitive 2025 presidential runoff results— National Electoral Council of Ecuador
- EU Election Observation Mission Ecuador 2025 final report— European External Action Service