Quito, October 15 (Prensa Latina) The National Electoral Council (CNE) in Ecuador reported today the arrest of a member of the electoral committee in the province of Sucumbíos for ballot irregularities.
According to CNE President Diana Altamaint, the person was drunk and filling out ballot papers for a particular candidate.
“We will be vigilant so that the full force of the law falls on this person who was arrested in the act because he has committed a crime classified under the Penal Code and could be punished with seven years in prison,” Atamaint added.
In the first tally of the day, the official said that by 10:00 a.m. (local time) a voter turnout of 11.78 percent had been registered.
Atamaint added that 94.43 percent of board members have received personal training and 74 percent of the tables have delegates from political organizations.
This Sunday at 7:00 a.m. (local time) the polling stations opened here, where citizens will choose the president between the candidate of the Citizens’ Revolution, Luisa González, and Daniel Noboa of the National Democratic Action alliance.
The elections are scheduled until 5:00 p.m. (local time), then all precincts will be closed and counting will begin.
Authorities said the first official results would be available an hour and a half after counting began.
Ecuador came to this process after President Lasso last May decreed crucifixion, a constitutional mechanism by which he dissolved parliament during impeachment proceedings against him, brought forward the end of his mandate and called for early elections.
ode/nta