Election officials grapple with voter security fears and fraud allegations as Ecuador prepares for a contentious presidential runoff.

Ecuador’s National Electoral Council (CNE) is under mounting pressure as the country heads toward the second round of presidential elections on April 13th, with officials addressing both voter security concerns and unsubstantiated fraud allegations that threaten to undermine confidence in the process.

Security Concerns Over Voter Intimidation

In response to reports of voter coercion in the first round of elections, CNE officials met with the Ministers of Defense and Interior, as well as the leadership of the Armed Forces, on February 28th. The closed-door session, which lasted over two hours, centered on measures to protect voters from intimidation and ensure the secrecy of the ballot.

Following the meeting, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo and Interior Minister John Reimberg briefed the media but did not take questions. Loffredo described the discussions as “fruitful” and indicated that CNE would consider recommendations from the security forces. One of the key proposals under review is a ban on cell phones inside voting booths to prevent voters from photographing their ballots—an issue that has raised alarms about forced voting in certain areas.

“We have two clear objectives,” Loffredo stated. “First, ensuring the safety of citizens so they are not targeted by criminal groups after voting. Second, protecting the right of Ecuadorians to vote freely and in secret.”

Reimberg echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to prevent voters from being pressured into supporting a particular candidate. According to authorities, evidence suggests that, in the first round, some voters were forced to photograph their ballots as proof of allegiance to a political party under threat of violence.

The CNE has not yet confirmed whether it will implement the cellphone ban but is expected to deliberate on the matter in the coming days.

Fraud Accusations and CNE’s Firm Response

While security concerns dominate discussions ahead of the runoff, the CNE is also facing renewed allegations of electoral fraud. On February 26th, the electoral body issued a firm rejection of claims made by Esteban Guarderas, a dismissed councilor of the Citizen Participation Council (Cpccs). Guarderas alleged that 5,000 votes had been manipulated in favor of Luisa González, the candidate representing former President Rafael Correa’s political movement.

Without mentioning Guarderas by name, the CNE condemned “certain political actors” for making “unsubstantiated accusations” aimed at discrediting the electoral process. Officials pointed to international observers, including the European Union, who had previously verified the transparency of the elections and found no evidence of fraud.

This is not the first time the CNE has had to push back against such claims. Days before the first round, it accused Andrés Arauz, a leader of González’s party, of attempting to create uncertainty by alleging that thousands of election officials were fictitious.

Adding to the tensions, the CNE rejected seven formal challenges from the Citizen Revolution party regarding vote counts in multiple provinces, including Guayas, Sucumbíos, Esmeraldas, and Pichincha. The challenges were dismissed due to late filings or lack of proper legal representation.

A Tense Political Climate Ahead of the Runoff

With the second round approaching, the political atmosphere remains tense. President Daniel Noboa, who is seeking reelection, has also voiced concerns about irregularities in the voting process, further fueling suspicions from his supporters.

As security and credibility issues take center stage, CNE officials face the dual challenge of safeguarding voters while fending off accusations that could undermine trust in the election outcome. Their next steps—particularly regarding the proposed cellphone ban—will likely shape public confidence in what is expected to be a highly contested runoff.