Ecuadorians are voting to choose a new president they hope will lead the country out of a wave of violence and economic troubles, after a campaign darkened by bloodshed.
Candidates have pledged to fight sharp increases in crime, which the current government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy, whose woes have caused a rise in unemployment and migration.
Security has taken centre stage in the contest since the murder of the anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio on 9 August, a former investigative journalist and lawmaker, who was gunned down while leaving a campaign event.
Six suspects, all Colombians police say belong to criminal gangs, are being held in connection to the murder. Another suspect died of injuries sustained in a shootout.
Other candidates have reported attacks against them, though in several cases police have said that violence was not directed at the hopefuls themselves.
“It makes me so ashamed that the country is going this way and deteriorating because of bad governments,” said Monica Barba, 47, who said she hoped the party of the former president Rafael Correa would win.
Luisa Gonzalez, a protege of Correa, led polling before Villavicencio’s murder with about 30% of voting intention.
She has promised to free up $2.5bn from international reserves to bolster Ecuador’s economy, as well as bring back social programmes implemented by Correa – who has since been convicted of corruption – during his decade in power.
The pro-market candidate Otto Sonnenholzner has hardened his discourse since Villavicencio’s murder, repeatedly promising that criminals who use violence will be shot by police under his government.
The law and order candidate Jan Topic, who says he was a member of the French Foreign Legion, has pledged to solve security problems first, while Daniel Noboa, son of the prominent businessperson and former candidate Alvaro Noboa, has centred his campaign on job creation.
The environmentalist Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez has said he would revise mining concessions that do not comply with environmental and social rules and ask creditors for breathing room.
“The new president must propose things that are real, not just words,” said Menaly Luge, 18, a university student who is voting for Villavicencio’s Construye party. “Our country is suffering an economic crisis and so much crime … We need more opportunities for young people, we don’t want to migrate.”
Christian Zurita, who replaced Villavicencio, has promised to better equip the police and enshrine intelligence protocols to fight crime, using international loans to shore up social programmes.
Villavicencio’s name and photo will appear on the ballots, which were printed before his murder.
Also on Sunday’s ballot are two environmental referendums – both expected to pass – which could block mining in a forest near the capital, Quito, and development of an oil block in the Amazon.
The 13 million-strong electorate will also choose 137 members of the national assembly. Voting is mandatory for those between 18 and 65 and authorities have said 100,000 police and military will guard polling places.
Polls close at 5pm (2200 GMT) and initial results are due a few hours later. A candidate needs 50% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 points ahead of their nearest rival, to win in the first round. Otherwise, a second round will take place on 15 October.