At Stake in this Election: 

On 20 August 2023, Ecuadorian citizens will vote on whether to allow oil extraction in Yasuní National Park. The park, which is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is part of the Amazon rainforest and is inhabited by Waorani, Kichwa, and Shuar indigenous communities. Additionally, the park contains approximately 18% of Ecuador’s known crude oil deposits.  

There will also be a concurrent local referendum in the Quito metropolitan district about restricting mining in the Chocó Andino natural area, as well as presidential and legislative elections. This election will occur concurrently with presidential and legislative elections. 

The question on the ballot is as follows:  

"Given that the initiative to leave crude oil untouched in the subsoil of the Yasuní area, in the oil fields known as ITT, ISHPINGO, TAMBOCOCHA, TIPUTINI, is a topic of general interest that can be decided via public consultation,  

Do you agree that the Ecuadorian Government should leave the crude oil of the ITT, known as block 43, beneath the subsoil indefinitely?"

Response Options: SÍ (YES) or NO (NO) 

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021) 

• Head of Government: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021) 

• Assembly: unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) with 137 seats 

Electoral System:  

• The President is directly elected by absolute majority vote in up to two rounds. The President may serve up to two 4-year terms. 

• All 137 members of the National Assembly are directly elected and serve 4-year terms. Among them, 116 are elected by plurality vote in single-seat constituencies, 15 are elected by proportional representation vote in a single, nationwide constituency, and 6 are elected by plurality vote multi-seat constituencies representing Ecuadorians abroad. 

Last Election:  

On 5 February 2023, Ecuadorians voted on a series of constitutional amendments proposed by President LASSO. These provisions involved a wide variety of policy areas, from crime to the environment. None of the eight provisions were approved, and voter turnout was 59%. 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 17,483,326 (2023 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 13,450,047 (2023) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 8,829,963 (2023 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 17 July 1980, Ratified 9 November 1981 

• Gender Quota:  Yes, each party list must alternate to include an equal quantity of men and women  

• Female Candidates in this election: Yes 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 60 out of 137 (43.8%) in the National Assembly  

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.740, High, Rank 95 (2021) 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 17, Very Low (2023) 

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 30 March 2007, Ratified 3 April 2008 

• Projected population with a disability: 1,324,494 (2023 est.) 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in Ecuador: Yes, program office 

• Election Access: Yes 

• Election Judgements: Yes, 9 resources 

Ballot Question in Spanish 

"Que, mantener la iniciativa de dejar el crudo en el subsuelo en el YASUNÍ, en los campos conocidos como ITT, ISHPINGO, TAMBOCOCHA, TIPUTINI es un tema de interés general que puede ser decidido mediante consulta popular. Por consiguiente: 

¿Está usted de acuerdo con que el Gobierno ecuatoriano mantenga el crudo del ITT, conocido como bloque 43, indefinidamente bajo el subsuelo?"