Ecuador moves toward November 2026 sectional elections with precandidate acceptance and alliance registrations

Ecuador’s political parties are completing the final steps before the November 29, 2026 sectional elections. By July 12, 2026, 22 organisations in Loja province formally accepted their precandidates, a prerequisite for official candidacy registration scheduled for August 2‑17. The National Electoral Council (CNE) has set July 18 as the deadline for parties to register electoral alliances, a process that will shape the contests for prefects, mayors and councilors across the country.

Precandidate lists have been published for several provinces, including Santa Elena, where six parties (Unidad Popular, Acción Democrática Nacional, Avanza, Amigo, Pachakutik and Futuro) have named prefect and vice‑prefect candidates. Similar disclosures have been made for the mayoral races in Santa Elena, Salinas and other cantons. Parties such as ADN, Avanza, Unidad Popular, Cre‑O and the Revolution Ciudadana are negotiating coalitions, with some opting to run alone while others will join forces through the Amigo platform.

Following alliance registration, the CNE will verify requirements, open an objection period, and publish the official list of qualified candidates on November 9, 2026. The electoral calendar thus moves from internal primaries (June 18‑July 2) to candidate acceptance, alliance filing, and finally the nationwide vote in November.