A WEB

Experience as an Observer of the 2025 General Elections in Ecuador A-WEB Mission

By: Eugenia Fernán-Zegarra

Official, Directorate of Studies, Strategies, and Territorial Coordination

National Jury of Elections of Peru

In response to the invitation extended by the President of the National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE), the President of the National Jury of Elections of Peru designated me to represent the institution as an international observer in the A-WEB Electoral Mission during Ecuador’s 2025 General Elections.

The elections were held in two rounds. The first round took place on February 9, 2025, to elect the President and Vice President, members of the National Assembly, and Andean Parliamentarians. As no candidate for the presidency obtained more than 50% of the valid votes—or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over the runner-up—a second round was held on April 13, 2025.

The Electoral Mission carried out its work in Quito on both dates, with participants from Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, and other countries, as well as electoral experts from A-WEB. The induction and training program organized by A-WEB not only provided valuable knowledge about Ecuador’s electoral system, but also fostered collaboration, integration, and mutual understanding among the Mission’s members.

The experience was further enriched through direct dialogue with Ecuador’s electoral authorities—the CNE and the Electoral Dispute Tribunal (TCE)—who addressed our questions and explained the activities planned and implemented. In coordination with A-WEB, the CNE also organized high-quality briefing sessions for international observers, covering topics such as the legal framework, the roles of electoral institutions, election organization, and communication strategies. Additionally, we had the opportunity to engage with researchers on the political and democratic context of the country and the challenges facing these elections.

A-WEB also provided training on how to conduct observation and prepare reports. At the end of each workday, the Mission held debriefing sessions to compile findings from polling stations, including the setup of Voting Receiving Boards (Juntas Receptoras del Voto – JRV), the voting process, the counting of ballots, and the transmission of results.

The Guidebook prepared by A-WEB proved instrumental not only for conducting observation, but also for comparative analysis of the electoral practices and regulations of Peru and Ecuador. Drawing on this tool, I later presented to officials of the National Jury of Elections of Peru several relevant issues from the Ecuadorian system, such as incentives for forming electoral alliances and the “Voting at Home” program, which facilitates voting for persons with disabilities and citizens over 65.

During that presentation, I also highlighted the importance of A-WEB Mission reports and recommendations in informing public debate on legislative proposals—such as those concerning the composition of polling stations (JRVs in Ecuador). For example, Ecuador’s legislation assigns a predominant role to university students, who account for 79.43% of JRV members. After the first round of elections, the Mission recommended that JRV members receive adequate training and that experienced individuals be included, noting that some members were unfamiliar with vote-counting procedures and often relied on JRV coordinators. Confusion was also observed regarding the distinction between valid and invalid votes. These findings were reflected in Technical Report No. 000149-2025-DGNAJ/JNE, dated March 21, 2025.

In conclusion, the quality of citizen participation in the composition of Voting Receiving Boards in Ecuador—or polling stations in Peru—regardless of age, is directly linked to the training provided to those entrusted with such an important responsibility.