2:00 PM Today
Vice President Pinto voted and called for citizen participation.
Vice President María José Pinto also cast her vote, reaffirming her commitment to the democratic process. “I came to vote with the same conviction as always because I believe in this country,” the Vice President declared after depositing her ballot at her assigned polling station.
Pinto took the opportunity to call on citizens to actively participate in the election. The vice president, who had attended the official opening ceremony of the process earlier at the National Electoral Council headquarters in Quito, reiterated the importance of Ecuadorians turning out in large numbers to vote on the questions posed in the referendum and the popular consultation.
13:56 hsToday
Noboa voted after announcing the capture of the leader of Los Lobos
President Daniel Noboa voted early this Sunday at a school in Olón, Santa Elena province, a town where he has voted in previous elections. Accompanied by his family, the president gave a brief speech after casting his ballot in which he defended the electoral process, stating that “there is nothing more democratic than asking the people about criminals.”
The president's vote coincided with the announcement of the capture of Wilmer Chavarría Barré, alias"Pipo," leader of the criminal gang Los Lobos and one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the region. Noboa revealed that the arrest was the result of cooperation between Ecuadorian authorities and police forces from the United States and Spain.
The president used election day to link the referendum to his security strategy, emphasizing the importance of public support for his proposals to combat organized crime. The announced arrest represents one of the most significant blows against drug trafficking in Ecuador during his administration.
13:44 hsToday
More than 20,000 Ecuadorians voted in Spain
Voting by Ecuadorians abroad for the referendum and popular consultation began this Sunday, November 16, according to the time zone of each country where the migrants reside. In Spain, one of the main destinations for the Ecuadorian diaspora, voter turnout at the Madrid fairgrounds was steady from the early morning hours, according to reports from consular authorities.
An initial assessment by the Ecuadorian Embassy in Spain indicates that 20,000 people have cast their votes at the 19 polling stations set up in that European country, out of more than 196,000 Ecuadorians eligible to vote. Ambassador Wilma Andrade, who exercised her right to vote, noted that the voting process is proceeding smoothly and that participation is typical for this type of election.
“In referendums, there is always lower participation compared to presidential elections,” Andrade explained regarding the turnout so far. Consular authorities continue to monitor the election day at all polling stations in Spain.
13:02 hsToday
Noboa announced the capture of “Pipo” Chavarría, leader of Los Lobos and the most wanted drug trafficker in the region
The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, announced this Sunday the capture of Wilmer Chavarría Barré, alias ‘Pipo’, leader of the Los Lobos cartel and one of the most wanted drug traffickers on the continent. “Today we captured ‘Pipo’ Chavarría, the most wanted criminal in the region and top leader of Los Lobos,” the president reported via his social media account during the referendum and popular consultation election day.
Today we captured “Pipo” Chavarría, the region's most wanted criminal and top leader of Los Lobos. The criminal who faked his death, changed his identity, and hid in Europe while ordering murders in Ecuador, controlling illegal mining operations, and moving money… — Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) November 16, 2025
The arrest was the result of joint work between the Ecuadorian and Spanish National Police, according to Noboa, who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crime. The United States had imposed sanctions in 2024 against ‘Pipo’ and Los Lobos, considered the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador due to its connections with the Mexican cartels Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa. The group has also been implicated in the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023.
The drug trafficker, who had faked his death and was hiding in Europe under a false identity, continued to order murders in Ecuador, control illegal mining operations, and manage drug routes from abroad. “We went looking for him in his own personal hell. That’s the difference when there’s a will to fight for your country,” Noboa declared, describing the capture as a decisive blow against the mafias operating in the South American country.
12:49 PM Today
The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE) dismisses irregularities and defends the transparency of the electoral process.
The president of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint, defended the transparency of the referendum and popular consultation this Sunday, asserting that the process was organized with technical rigor despite having been prepared in just 60 days. Atamaint categorically rejected theories about alleged irregularities in the electoral inks, stating that “there are no magic inks or inks that walk” and that such claims only arise “when the tongue outruns the brain.”
The official highlighted that more than 13.8 million voters are eligible to vote both in Ecuador and abroad, and noted that the National Electoral Council (CNE) opened its doors in the days prior to the election so that political organizations such as Revolución Ciudadana and ADN could review the ballot printing process. The hypothesis of a supposedly transferable ink had been circulated by supporters of former President Correa after the previous presidential elections, in which they refused to recognize Daniel Noboa's victory over Luisa González.
Atamaint called on citizens, the media, and political actors not to spread unverified information, emphasizing that official results will only be broadcast by the National Electoral Council (CNE) through its official channels. Vice President María José Pinto, who attended the opening ceremony representing the government, urged Ecuadorians to unite and put aside conflicts, stating that “protecting our democracy is protecting the future.”
12:02 PM Today
What are the referendum topics and until what time can voting take place?
Voting in Ecuador for the referendum called by President Daniel Noboa began this Sunday with more than 13.9 million Ecuadorians called to the polls to answer four questions, including whether to establish a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution and whether to allow the re-establishment of foreign military bases.
The other two questions proposed by Noboa contemplate the reduction of the number of members of the National Assembly (Parliament) from 151 to 73 representatives, and the elimination of public funding for political parties, so that they can only be financed with private resources.
To answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to these questions, a total of 4,463 voting centers were enabled, which in Ecuadorian territory began to open their doors from 7:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and will remain open for ten hours until 17:00 (22:00 GMT), at which time they will close and the counting will begin.
12:00 PM Today
Ecuador begins the day of referendum and popular consultation
Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE) officially inaugurated the popular consultation and referendum process this Saturday in a ceremony held in Quito shortly before 6:30 a.m. The formal event marked the beginning of the day in which millions of Ecuadorians will go to the polls to vote on the questions posed.
The president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint, led the ceremony along with the other members of the electoral body. Vice President María José Pinto attended on behalf of the Executive Branch, while President Daniel Noboa was absent from the inaugural event.
With this ceremony, the country formally begins a process that will determine the return of foreign military bases and a new Constitution. The referendum also aims to eliminate funding for political parties and reduce the number of members of Congress.
Polling stations across the country are now open to receive voters on this day, which will continue until the polls close.
11:16 AM Today
What to avoid bringing to the elections
More than 57,000 police officers will be deployed across the country this Sunday to ensure security during the referendum and public consultation. The officers will cover both polling stations and areas with high concentrations of people in what represents one of the largest security operations of the year.
Police authorities issued a series of recommendations to help citizens avoid problems when exercising their right to vote. Among the main restrictions is the prohibition of carrying weapons, sharp objects, backpacks, and large bags at polling stations. Voters should only bring their identification documents and essential items.
The election day will also be governed by a Dry Law, which prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the process. Authorities recommend using public transportation to get to the polling places and reporting any irregularities to ECU 911 or directly to the police officers stationed at each polling place.
