On Sunday, Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) conducted a national simulation of the popular consultation and constitutional referendum called by the Government for next November 16, reported the head of the body, Diana Atamaint.
«Seven days before the voting day, we are carrying out this national simulation, an exercise that will allow us to test 100 percent of each of the technical, logistical, operational, technological, and human elements that are the essential guarantee for the protection of the popular vote,» said Atamaint at an event at the Salesian Polytechnic University, in the city of Quito, the country's capital.
The electoral simulation is being carried out simultaneously in the 24 Provincial Electoral Delegations and abroad, where the effectiveness of contingency plans regarding possible adverse events and the functioning of the Vote Receiving Boards in the stages of installation, voting, and scrutiny, among other aspects, is also validated.
Atamaint specified that 3,509 members of the Armed Forces, 25,000 members of the National Police, and 2,379 electoral officials participated in the simulation. The presence of national and international observers, as well as delegates from various political and social organizations, is also accounted for.
Since November 1, the country has been in an electoral campaign period, which will extend until next November 13. A total of 16 political and social organizations are authorized to carry out proselytism in favor of or against the four questions of the plebiscite, in a framework in which the CNE accredited 825 national and international observers to guarantee the transparency of the elections.
The National Assembly (Congress) authorized a temporary leave for President Daniel Noboa on November 7 to participate in the electoral campaign in favor of the plebiscite, a leave that is in effect from this Sunday until November 13, during which the head of state may participate in political proselytism activities.
The Vice President of the Republic, María José Pinto, will temporarily assume the presidential functions during the period indicated.
More than 13.9 million Ecuadorians are called to the polls to express themselves in the popular consultation on whether they agree or not to convene and install a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution.
Voters will also have to answer 'Yes' or 'No' in a constitutional referendum that poses three questions related to eliminating the prohibition on establishing foreign military bases in Ecuador, reducing the number of legislators, and eliminating state funding for political parties.
