Why is this election important?
President Daniel Novore, who has pledged to tackle the security crisis with his iron fist, is facing re-election 16 months later. He is Luisa Gonzalez, a candidate backed by former populist president, Rafael Correa.
Over the past five years, Ecuador has experienced an explosion of violence related to drug trafficking. The justice system, plagued by overcrowding, corruption and underfunding, has become a fertile position for prison gangs allied with international drug cartels.
It transformed the country from an oasis of peace in turbulent regions into a key player in the world's drug trade, wreaking havoc in the lives of millions of Ecuadorians.
At the same time, government data shows that only 36% of Ecuadorians have appropriate employment, making the economy the biggest concern.
Voters are split between Novoa, who has pledged to crack down on violence but has achieved minimal results so far, and Gonzalez, who runs on the record of a former president but faces a very different country from the country he led.
Who is the top candidate?
Novore, a Harvard-educated heir to the multi-billion-dollar banana empire, took office in 2023 after calling for an early election in the ammo each procedure.
Novore first joined politics four years ago when he ran for a seat in the National Assembly. In the 2023 Presidential Contest, he was able to rise from the bottom of the vote in the first round of votes to second place after a strong debate performance. He then defeated Gonzalez in the second round.
Gonzalez, who served in various positions in the Correa government, is primarily a representative of the former president and is considered a divisive figure in Ecuador. While many respect Correa for the booming economy, low crime rates and investment in education that Ecuador experienced under his government, while others revive him due to his corruption conviction in 2020 and his authoritarian tendencies.
He also attracted international attention when he ordered police to enter the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest politicians who were facing prison sentences for corruption. Critics viewed the move as a violation of diplomatic norms and an abuse of power.
However, supporters see Novoa as a decisive leader who is not afraid to challenge established corruption and bend rules when necessary. Last year, the Ecuadorians supported his harsh crime agenda by voting in favour of a referendum that officially expanded the role of the military in law enforcement.
Rights groups have accused his hardline tactics of being excessive and harmful, but many voters (even those who oppose him) say they want more action from the authorities. The murder declined early in the presidency, but soon began to rise again.
Novore also highlighted his ability to develop relationships with global leaders, including President Trump, and tried to cast himself as Ecuador's best representative on the world stage.
President Ecuador is one of the few Latin American leaders invited to Trump's second presidential inauguration and recently met him at his Mar Lago resort in South Florida.
“Nobore has really built a trump card and relationship with the US,” said Lisa Grace Targaux, Latin American director of Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.
Grace Targo said the Ecuadorians supported foreign security assistance and made the issue a potential asset for Novoa. However, he added that his efforts to appeal to Trump “have not really led to any significant commitments from the United States.”
Under Correa, Ecuador's relations with the United States were tense. Experts have seen his decision as a set-off that weakens US military border control and makes it easier for cross-border drug traffickers to operate.
At the same time, the Correa administration was able to lower the country's murder rates. This was credited to the product boom, which increased police presence and increased security funding.
Gonzalez tried to present a friendly stance towards the United States, but critics remained skeptical.
When will the results be known?
Voting begins at 7am on Sunday and ends at 5pm, with results expected to arrive around 6pm
