Print

Ecuador

The Republic of Ecuador has a representative democracy as its political system with a separation of powers: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The autonomous electoral agency "Consejo Nacional Electoral" (CNE) is the independent electoral institute revising elections and other democratic processes. The country's political system is multi-party and the leader of each party can run for president. This president is the head of the government and leads the multi-party cabinet for a period of four years, the constitution, after which new he/she can be re-elected or a new president, vice-president and National Assembly (the legislative branch of the government) is chosen.

Compulsory Voting

The people of Ecuador elect their president every four years and occasionally can vote for or against the implementation of new laws. Voting is obligated for each Ecuadorian living in the country between 18 and 65 years old, and not complying with this obligation can be fined. The following people have the opportunity to vote voluntary:

• Non-Ecuadorians living in Ecuador as a resident for at least five years who registered to vote
• Ecuadorians with an age of 16 or 17 years
• Ecuadorians with an age of 66 years or above
• Ecuadorians registered as living abroad
• Members of the Armed Forces and National Police in active service
• Ecuadorians with a disability
• Illiterate Ecuadorians

Quito

Ecuador's 24 provinces are divided in cantons and these cantons are divided in parishes (in which several neighbourhoods are located). The canton of Quito has 32 urban parishes, not including the areas outside of the city borders, like the valleys of Cumbayá and Tumbaco. The current mayor of Quito is Mauricio Roda, whom is the head of the 15-membered city council. Each five year the mayor is elected and can afterwards be re-elected.

The municipality's responsibilities are divided in metropolitan companies, secretaries, institutions, and agencies. Citizens of Quito can arrange their local affairs at one of the municipal offices located in each zone of the city. The municipality has different offices for different type of service, like water, local tourism, public works, etc. Depending on the type of affair, citizens can arrange it in one of the general zonal offices or have to go to a specialized service office.

Details about each service can be found at the official website of the municipal of Quito (in Spanish).