The runoff will define Ecuador's future this Sunday, April 13th.

This Sunday, April 13, Ecuador will experience a crucial day with the presidential runoff. More than 13.8 million Ecuadorians are eligible to vote from 7:00 AM across the country.

The counting process will begin at 5:00 PM, when the polls close and the voting boards start the scrutiny. According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), the first results will be available from 6:00 PM.

The president of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, reported that it will take about an hour to process and digitize each record. The definitive trend, which could determine the new president of the country, won't be seen before 9:00 PM.

The system has been prepared to ensure transparency, and it is expected to process 90% of the records during Sunday night. Only when there is an irreversible trend or 100% of the votes have been counted, will the winner be proclaimed.

The runoff faces two opposing visions for the country: the pragmatic and renewing proposal of Daniel Noboa against the populist and regressive agenda of Luisa González, backed by the Citizen Revolution. Meanwhile, the current government has taken concrete steps in security and governance, the socialist model of the RC has been criticized for its past of corruption, centralism, and polarization.

Experts have warned that this election will define whether the country continues on a path of institutionalism or returns to political practices that weakened democracy. "Ecuador must look to the future, not to regression," indicated political analyst Carlos Vera.

The country awaits with anticipation the outcome of this contest, where citizen participation will be key. Control bodies and international observers have been deployed to ensure a transparent process.

Beyond the counting, what is at stake this Sunday is the stability of Ecuador. The decision between moving forward firmly or returning to a failed model is in the hands of the people.