In a program broadcast around 10 a.m. this Sunday, August 20, the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint, confirmed that Ecuadorian migrants living abroad have had problems voting online.

Users on social networks had been reporting since the morning that the internet page set up by the CNE for digital suffrage was freezing and sending them error messages.

Citizens located in countries including Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and the United States said they could not vote.

The CNE initially denied that the system had any problems via its Twitter account. They also put a watermark with the caption “FALSE” on an article produced by a national media.

“We report that the telematic voting system abroad is working normally. Remember that you must pay within the determined time, 30 minutes. If you need advice, you can contact call centerwas the message from the electorate that was sent to several accounts that reported that the platform was not working properly.

“It is important to inform the public that we have received requests for technical assistance from some compatriots who see problems in exercising their right to vote,” Atamaint told the national channel.

Through a press release, the CNE also indicated that the average telematic voting time per person is 45 minutes. Voting in person, on the other hand, takes an average of 5 minutes.

“Our technicians intervene in a personalized way through the call center and through the connections which was given to each of them to accompany them,” he added.

Elections 2023, LIVE: All the news about the presidential elections in Ecuador

Atamaint also guaranteed that “all Ecuadorians” will be able to exercise their right to vote at the end of the day.

21,974 Ecuadorians voted in Europe, Oceania and Asia until 10:00 a.m., according to the CNE; in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, 177; and 196 paid in Canada and the United States. (YO)