In late April of 2009 I was sent to Quito, Ecuador to cover the general elections.
The general elections decided many important issues for the Ecuadorians, most importantly it decided who the next president would be.
Ecuador is a democracy and the public vote decides who will be elected.
Voting was done in public schools and it looked as though entire families attended.
All voting locations where also guarded by armed military personnel.
The military personnel serve as both guards as well as information officers. I saw many confused Ecuadorians asking the military personnel for instructions and directions.
Voting was separated by sex and last name. The voting was done behind cardboard cut outs placed facing a wall on desks.
The front of the cardboard says “The Vote is secret”. Rooms held alphabetically organized last names and were separated by sex.
Quito, Ecuador was a beautiful, quiet and calm. The dark grey skies were constantly threatening to rain almighty fury down upon the lush green landscape. Strangely enough, the rain never came and I enjoyed a very temperate climate through out my stay.
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