About 2,000 candidacies for Ecuador’s local elections on Sunday, 29 November 2026, are not yet final, according to the National Electoral Council (CNE, the body that runs elections). The vote fills about 5,700 posts, from mayors to village board members, and the final list of candidates is due on Monday, 9 November.
For US readers, the vote is a test of Ecuador’s political order under President Daniel Noboa. Mayors and prefects (provincial governors) control local budgets, security programmes and permits that affect investors and expats.
What Happened
Parties and movements had to register their candidates online before the deadline in August. The CNE received 53,534 requests, and its count of 14 October put more than 51,370 as qualified.
The gap is about 2,155 candidacies still waiting for a final decision, according to the CNE count of 14 October. Most of the refused registrations have gone to the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE, the court that settles election appeals).
Appeals can change the final list until the CNE closes it. In two cases, the tribunal has confirmed that prefect candidates in Manabí province cannot run.
Why It Matters
A candidacy only counts once it is final, which means appeals must end before ballots can be locked. Ballots for about 13.8 million voters are being printed at the Military Geographic Institute, a state mapping agency, so late changes carry a real cost.
Local governments in Ecuador run city services, markets and permits that foreign firms deal with every day. A contested list can also feed doubts about fairness, which the CNE has to answer before voters go to the polls.
What Happens Next
The CNE publishes the definitive list on Monday, 9 November. Any case still pending at the tribunal can change a name on that list or on a ballot.
Voters then choose on Sunday, 29 November 2026. Winners take office on 14 May 2027.
What Is Not Known
The exact number of final candidacies is not fixed, because it depends on appeals still being decided. The latest CNE count published is from 14 October; the 9 November list may differ.
The CNE has not published a full breakdown of reasons, and it is unclear how many rejected candidates will win their appeals. We will update this report once the CNE publishes the final list.
What It Means for You
If you invest in or do business with Ecuador, check which candidates control your city or province after 29 November. Expats who vote or pay local taxes should expect new mayors to rewrite some local rules in 2027.
Travellers face little direct impact from the vote itself. Read our voting weekend rules for expats before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ecuador’s local election?
Ecuadorians vote on Sunday, 29 November 2026. They choose prefects (provincial governors), mayors, councillors and parish board members who take office on 14 May 2027.
Who is not yet on the ballot?
About 2,000 candidacies are not yet final, according to the CNE count of 14 October. Most are refused registrations under appeal at the Electoral Disputes Tribunal, and the final list is due on 9 November.
How many candidacies are qualified?
The CNE count of 14 October showed more than 51,370 qualified candidacies out of 53,534 registration requests. The figure can still move while appeals are decided.
Sources: Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) statements and electoral calendar, cne.gob.ec; Tribunal Contencioso Electoral (TCE), tce.gob.ec. Figures are the CNE count of 14 October 2026, the latest we could confirm.