The National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE) officially called on citizens to participate in the early general elections on August 20th.

Quito.- The CNE disclosed the schedule approved for the polls, in which Ecuadorians will elect the President, the Vice President, and the 137 members of the Assembly, who will only remain in office until 2025.

The inscription of the candidates will take place between May 28th and June 10th, while the campaign will last just 10 days, from August 8th to 17th, and a second round, if necessary, should take place on October 15th.

The CNE also explained the characteristics of the suffrage of prisoners and residents abroad, who will be able to elect their representatives online.

The funds to guarantee the elections will amount to 79,940,920 dollars in case there were two rounds of elections, as agreed in a plenary session of the CNE on Tuesday night. The amount however would decrease to 48,317,814 dollars if there should be only a single round.

The “mutual death” decree issued last week by President Guillermo Lasso forced the set up of extraordinary general elections.

Lasso’s decision, although it was called fraudulent as he used it to save himself from impeachment, is considered a hope for Ecuador, which is suffering from a political crisis, insecurity, and economic problems. (PL)