Ecuador's electoral authorities report presidential election proceeding normally

2021-04-11 22:36:01 GMT2021-04-12 06:36:01(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
A man votes at a polling station in Saquisili, Ecuador, April 11, 2021. The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador reported on Sunday that the second round of presidential election is progressing normally. (Photo by Santiago Armas/Xinhua)  A man votes at a polling station in Saquisili, Ecuador, April 11, 2021. The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador reported on Sunday that the second round of presidential election is progressing normally. (Photo by Santiago Armas/Xinhua)

QUITO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador reported on Sunday that the second round of presidential election is progressing normally.

More than 13 million Ecuadorians are eligible to vote in the election, 410,239 of whom reside abroad.

The polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and will close at 5:00 p.m. local time (2200 GMT).

Andres Arauz, a progressive candidate backed by former president Rafael Correa, called on Ecuadorians to unite behind a government that serves the majority.

"Today, that is the option we represent ... we need to govern for all of Ecuador. Here is an option that calls for unity and we will do it starting tonight," said Arauz.

"We make a call for national unity; enough fighting. We want a unity government that respects everyone, that provides solutions to problems, and we are here precisely for that."

The center-right former banker, Guillermo Lasso, a three-time candidate for the presidency, who is facing off against Arauz in the election, cast his vote in the city of Guayaquil.

"We will wait in our home calmly, peacefully with family for the results from the Ecuadorian people, who will give us an important victory this day," Lasso said.

The president of the CNE, Diana Atamaint said that the CNE has implemented biosecurity protocols at the polls to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and that the election is being monitored by 294 international observers, with security provided at the nation's 4,276 polling stations by about 85,000 members of the armed forces and police.

Atamaint said that the computer system used during the election was recently strengthened to guarantee the transparency of the process. Enditem

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