Some of the candidates for the National Assembly, already considered elected legislators according to the preliminary results of the National Electoral Council (CNE), they were unable to secure a seat after overseas elections were repeated on October 15, election experts say, They also agree that participation in voting abroad could decrease now that it will be done face-to-face and no longer by telematic means.

A total of 409,250 Ecuadorians registered abroad will be able to vote in the presidential run-off and re-elect foreign and National Assembly members, after the vote was declared invalid by the CNE on August 25.

Voting for this population group is optional, but for recent elections 123,851 migrants registered to vote electronically and, due to system failures, only 51,623 were able to do so in the three foreign constituencies: Europe, Asia and Oceania; United States and Canada; Latin America, Caribbean and Africa.

The more than 120,000 registered compatriots represent an increase of 71.49% compared to the 72,218 Ecuadorians who went to vote in the February 5 elections.

The Foreign Affairs Commission of the National Electoral Council (CNE) decided on August 25 to cancel the August 20 process because the vote of this population group effectively affects the results of the members of the assembly; while he does not do so in the popular consultation of Yasuní, nor in the results of the first round of the dignity of President of the Republic. In addition, in the last few hours, it has been learned that the minutes of the three precincts show inconsistencies, the result of the same attacks on the system.

With the overseas vote canceled, the CNE still cannot announce the final official results of the dignity of assembly members and the vote that will take place on October 15, says Medardo Oleas, analyst and former president of the Tribunal supreme electorate. this could have an impact on the preliminary results known on the composition of the Parliament.

Besides the fact that some of the candidates, already considered elected legislators, may not win a seat, Medardo Oleas, former president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, says that this, along with the presidential run-off, ends up favoring the lists of political reserves of Daniel Noboa, of the National Democratic Alliance (ADN), lists 4-35; and Luisa González, from Revolución Ciudadana (list 5).

“It’s not the same thing to go to vote knowing the results than without knowing them. With two candidates, voters will align themselves on their lists and harm the others,” he said.

Nicanor Moscoso, also former president of the TSE, agrees that it is very likely that the lists of the two finalist presidential candidates will be favored in this vote and he says that is why it is always expected that legislators be elected in the first round.

“Some members of the Assembly who won with very few votes could be expelled. To give an example, Lucio Gutiérrez, who is one of those who received the fewest votes, must say 100,000 votes and the divisor, based on the Webster method, to win sixth place has 95,000 and that is that’s why Lucio entered, but in the new vote the other list can get 100,000 more votes and his sixth gets it with 120,000 and Lucio would not increase his vote, that’s why this vote is important to because of the continuous divisors we have,” he explains.

Moscoso considers that the error of the CNE was to hire a company without experiencebut what stands out is that migrants are not left without the possibility of voting, since it is a right.

Likewise, he points out that it must be understood that this is an extraordinary election, a product of cross-death, and that the Ecuadorian electoral law establishes that everything that is not regulated can be decided by the session plenary session of the CNE and that is what is being done.

“Since what to do in a situation like this is not regulated, then they decide how it was done at the time of the campaign,” he mentions.

For his part, Oleas differs since he considers that the actions of the CNE to decide that the elections be repeated “is illegal” and that it is still possible that the Electoral Dispute Tribunal (TCE) annuls the resolution due to its lack of legal basis. .

In addition, it is mentioned that this repetition of the process now involves the creation of electoral constituencies and the formation of vote reception commissions, which would already be against time.

“It is not an easy issue and the tables must be set for Ecuadorians who live abroad and want to support that day… Time is running out and all these measures put the whole electoral process at risk “, he said, adding that it was the right thing to do. this is to recognize the results of the August 20th overseas vote.

However, Moscoso says a point to consider when moving to face-to-face voting is that Participation may decline, as has happened in previous processes when there was no telematic voting.

“Of the 400,000 registered voters, they have never all voted, in the best case 40% will have participated. It is not at all strange that on this occasion, between 80,000 and 100,000 people end up voting. Voting abroad is nothing but a romanticism promoted by the leaders of migrant unions and it is not something that only happens to Ecuadorians, it happens to many other countries”, mentions- he. (YO)