Local Elections 29 November 2026

Floods exacerbated by the El Niño 

On 27 March 2026, the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Ecuador approved a decision to reschedule the upcoming Local Elections from 14 February 2027 to 29 November 2026, effectively advancing the vote by more than two months. The decision was made after the CNE received a technical report prepared by the Secretariat of Risk Management, a separate government agency, which warned of the possible effects of an El Niño phenomenon which would arrive in early 2027, as well as a worse-than-usual rainy season and potential floods (Primicias 2026).  

The decision sparked political contention because it significantly narrows the legally mandated timelines for internal party primaries, alliance formation, candidate registration, and compliance reviews, which especially disadvantages smaller parties and local movements (The Cuenca Dispatch 2026). Opposition actors also contend that the lack of prior consultation and the speed of implementation undermine predictability and confidence in the electoral process, leading several political actors to file electoral challenges before the independent Electoral Disputes Tribunal (Tribunal Contencioso Electoral). However, these challenges were rejected by the Tribunal on 8 April 2026, upholding the calendar change as within the CNE’s legal authority (Romero 2026). Additionally, at least six constitutional lawsuits remain pending before the Constitutional Court (Corte Constitucional), which could potentially still affect the electoral calendar. Among the plaintiffs are the political parties Citizen Revolution (Revolución Ciudadana), the Christian Social Party (Partido Social Cristiano), and the Leader Movement (Movimiento Líder), as well as some private individuals (Jiménez Mora 2026). 

Authors: Siri Björgengen and Erik Asplund