Ecuadorians are choosing a new president, but violence threatens to scare away voters

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/20/ [login to see] /ecuador-presidential-election
Ecuador is holding a special election Sunday to pick a new president, with police and soldiers on guard against unprecedented violence, including the assassination of a candidate this month.

Front-runners include an ally of exiled former President Rafael Correa and a millionaire with a security background promising to be tough on crime.

Authorities have deployed more than 100,000 police and soldiers to protect the vote against more violence. Voting in Ecuador is mandatory for most voters, but turnout could be affected because of people's fears of leaving their homes.

The country's top electoral authority, Diana Atamint, on Sunday urged voters to unite against violence.