Polls open in Ecuador presidential runoff as voters choose between incumbent and leftist lawyer

(13 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quito, Ecuador - 13 April 2025
1. Various of people arriving to voting station
2. Various of military checking people's documents
3. Various of people voting
4. Wide of people waiting to vote
5. Close of documents
6. Various of police voting
7. Various of voting
8. Various of police and military guarding voting station
9. Gonzalo Freire, voter, walking
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Gonzalo Freire, voter:
"The candidates already have previous experience in these parties that must be beaten. We must fight for a young, new president with new ideas who will fight for our country."
11. Voter Alicia Onofre
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alicia Onofre, voter:
"May the one who wins be the best and fulfil the needs of the country."
13. Police patrolling area
14. Various of people leaving after voting
STORYLINE:
Ecuadorians are voting Sunday in the country’s presidential election runoff, facing the choice between incumbent President Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González.

It’s the second presidential runoff election in less than two years in the South American country, where voting is mandatory.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time, with more than 13 million people eligible to vote.

Noboa, a conservative young millionaire, and González have both promised voters solutions to the extortions, killings, kidnappings and other crimes that became part of everyday life as the country emerged from the pandemic.

Analysts expect the result in Sunday’s vote to have a very tight margin.

The candidates advanced to Sunday’s contest after polling most votes in February’s first-round election.

Noboa won 44.17% of the votes while González garnered 44%.

Voters are primarily worried about the violence that transformed the country, starting in 2021 — a spike in crime tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru.

Both candidates have promised tough-on-crime policies, better equipment for law enforcement and international help to fight drug cartels and local criminal groups.

More than 13 million people are eligible to vote, which is mandatory for adults up to the age of 65. It is optional for people aged 16 and 17 and over 65. Failure to vote results in a $46 fine.

AP video by Cesar Olmos

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