What are the fines for not showing up to vote?

The National Electoral Council (CNE) reiterated that citizens between 18 and 65 years old who do not go to vote this Sunday, November 16, must pay a fine of USD 47, equivalent to 10% of the Unified Basic Salary.

The 2025 Referendum and Popular Consultation include four questions that could modify constitutional provisions, so the electoral body reinforced warnings about the sanctions applicable during this day.

Voting remains optional for teenagers aged 16 and 17, adults over 65, Ecuadorians abroad, police officers, military personnel, and people with disabilities. However, those who are part of the mandatory register can only avoid the fine if they present valid justifications such as health issues, calamities, travel, or force majeure.

In the case of members of the Voting Receiving Boards, not attending the training entails a sanction of USD 47; being absent on election day raises the fine to USD 70.50; and abandoning the table can exceed USD 5,000, according to the Democracy Code.

The CNE explained that these measures guarantee the normal functioning of the electoral tables. For this process, the body summoned more than 287,000 citizens to join the boards nationwide.