Voting certificate is part of the requirements to open a bank account, apply for a loan, sign a promise to buy a house, get a key from the Internal Revenue Service (SRI) and sometimes even apply for a job. And that is that, according to experts, the ballot is not an “exclusive” condition, but it is “essential”.
This document is obtained after going to call for elections, as is the case this Sunday, August 20, to which more than 13 million citizens between the ages of 18 and 64 have been invited. Voting is optional for young people aged 16 and 17, adults aged 65 and over; active military and police officers, Ecuadorians living abroad, people with disabilities and illiterate people.
In case of non-appearance for payment, those who are obliged, according to Article 292 of the Code of Democracy, “will be punished with a fine equivalent to 10% of the single monthly fee”. Unified Basic Pay (SBU) is currently $450, so the penalty will be $45.
Electoral offenses are also mentioned in the Code of Democracy, which are divided into five, including minor ones, in which it is indicated that fines of one to ten basic wages will be imposed for different behaviors, the first for “undemanding to citizens, the exhibition of voting certificates, o exemption or payment of a fine in appropriate cases. Electoral voting cases are excluded”, according to Article 277.
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Lawyer Vanessa Velásquez points out that “the voting certificate is important in Ecuador and other countries because it serves as proof that the citizen has fulfilled his civic duty to participate in the elections.”
It also states that companies and institutions may require as part of their procedures to verify the identity of applicants, confirm their voting status and ensure that they fulfill their civic obligations, and that this may also be relevant in processes involving government benefits, such as discounts on taxes or access to public services.
On the contrary, Director of Human Talent at Casa Grande University, Adriana Gutiérrez, points out that “actually, voting certification is rarely requested today.”
While product manager from Multitrabajos, Verónica García, claims that when hiring in the private sector, the voting certificate “is not an exclusive condition”, that is, if a person does not present a voting paper, he will not be excluded from the selection process or will be the reason for excluding the candidate from employment , because otherwise it would be “discriminatory” to a certain extent. However, it is “important” – he says – because documents are required for each procedure, which implies the presentation of a voting certificate.
García adds that the situation is the same for the public sector. “I understand that even in the public sector this is not an exclusive requirement, but it is required,” he says.
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Velásquez, for his part, reminds that from 2018, public institutions that belong to the executive function should no longer ask for copies of an identity card or ballot for any procedure and service. Article 23 of the Law on Optimization and Efficiency of Administrative Procedure is referred to.
In the absence of a document, those interested in conducting the procedure must go to the offices of the National Electoral Council (CNE) to obtain a ballot and pay a fine, if applicable, for which, according to García, the recruiter or applicant will give a reasonable time to present the document.
In this context, García confirms that the voting certificate is essential for procedures involving a bond and gives as an example the opening of a bank account to deposit money from the payroll.
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In the case of young people leaving school and going through university admission procedures, he says that, in the same way as in employment or other contexts, the document will not be “exclusive or mandatory, much less discriminatory”. , the document can be obtained in the offices of the electoral entity.
In the meantime, Gutiérrez points out that confirmation of voting must be sought in the procedures of public institutions. Meanwhile, in practice in the private sector, this document is required for legal procedures, among others:
To them are added:
On the other hand, Velásquez describes in detail some of the procedures in which the voting certificate is not essential, but depends on the cases:
Voting certificate will give benefits in the supermarket chain
The supermarket chain takes advantage of the election context and includes voting confirmation in its promotions. Tía announced the Vote for Victory campaign! with benefits for those who come to their stores this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The campaign is aimed at ‘Clientes Más’, and in order to participate, they must present their voting certificate and update their information. In this way, they will start drawing tickets for the match of South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup of the national team against Uruguay, which is scheduled for September 12 in Quito. In addition, all purchases made on August 20 will receive triple plus points and receive a free bottle of water.
Questions and answers Elections 2023
Source: Eluniverso
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
