Polls open in Ecuador's presidential runoff as voters choose between incumbent President, leftist lawyer

Ecuador's presidential runoff election features incumbent Daniel Noboa against leftist lawyer Luisa González in a tight race.

Ecuadorians are voting on Sunday in the country's presidential election runoff, facing the choice between incumbent President Daniel Noboa and leftist lawyer Luisa González.

It's the second presidential runoff election in less than two years in the South American country, where voting is mandatory. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time, with more than 13 million people eligible to vote.

Mr. Noboa, a conservative young millionaire, and Ms. González have both promised voters solutions to the extortions, killings, kidnappings and other crimes that became part of everyday life as the country emerged from the pandemic. Analysts expect the result in Sunday's vote to have a very tight margin.

Voters chose Mr. Noboa over Ms. González in the runoff of a snap election in October 2023. The candidates advanced to Sunday's contest after polling most votes in February's first-round election. Mr. Noboa won 44.17% of the votes while Ms. González garnered 44%.

Analysts expect Sunday's results to have a very tight margin. Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time (1200 GMT; 8 a.m. EST) and close at 5 p.m. (2200 GMT; 6 p.m. EST) Initial results are expected two hours after polls close.

Voters are primarily worried about the violence that transformed the country, starting in 2021 — a spike in crime tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighbouring Colombia and Peru.

Both candidates have promised tough-on-crime policies, better equipment for law enforcement and international help to fight drug cartels and local criminal groups.