Ecuador, Peru to polls under strict measures
LIMA, PERU >> Voters in Ecuador and Peru cast ballots for new presidents Sunday, observing strict public health measures amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in both countries that have prompted the return of lockdowns and heightened concerns over their already battered economies.
Ecuadoreans participated in a runoff between a conservative businessman and a protégé of former leftist President Rafael Correa, while Peruvians chose from 18 candidates in the first round. Voting in the two Andean countries was mandatory.
In Ecuador, voters were ordered to wear masks, carry their own hand sanitizer and pencils, keep a 5-foot (1.5-meter) distance from others and avoid all personal contact in polling places. The only time voters could lower their masks was during the identification process.
“I did not have any problem, the process was fast, and it did not take me more than five minutes. In particular I did not see any major inconvenience or risk of contagion of the coronavirus,” Roberto Saldívar said at a voting site in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
Election officials in Peru scheduled specific times for people to vote to avoid overcrowding at the polls. But despite this measure, crowds, including older adults, formed outside voting sites because not enough poll workers showed up. Many people were exasperated after waiting in line under the sun for hours surrounded by others who broke social distancing guidelines.
All seats in Peru’s congress were also being contested.
Ecuador’s runoff featured leftist candidate Andres Arauz, who led the first round with more than 30% of the votes cast Feb. 7, and former banker Guillermo Lasso, who edged into the final by finishing about a half percentage point ahead of environmentalist and Indigenous candidate Yaku Pérez.
Initial results released by Ecuador’s Electoral Council after polls closed showed Lasso with about 54% and Arauz at just under 46%, with about 37% of votes counted. The winner will replace President Lenín Moreno next month.
Lasso did not make any statements after exit surveys gave mixed indications, while Arauz, at his campaign headquarters, harangued his followers with microphone in hand.