Quito - Starting at 00:00 (local time) today Ecuador is in the process of electoral silence, a stage prior to the general elections that will take place throughout the national territory and three special foreign circumscriptions on the coming Sunday, February 19.

The measure announced by the president of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Juan Pablo Pozo, prohibits the dissemination of any type of information in social media, reports of work, accountability or management by institutions and authorities of the Legislative, judicial, executive, transparency and social control functions.

Entities and officials that integrate the decentralized autonomous regime will not be able to publish information either.

According to the head of CNE, the ban, which will be lifted on Monday, February 20, is a space to promote citizens' reflection on the vote, which will allow them to decide their fate with equity and equal opportunities.

'The resolution ensures that during the electoral silence the rules are respected and that the democratic exercise is a reflection of decisions with a conscious and informed vote,' said Pozo.

Nearly 13 million people are called to the vote next Sunday to elect the next president, vice president, 137 members of the National Assembly and five Andean Parliamentarians.

Simultaneously, the voters will adopt a stand in Popular Consultation on a proposal of the dignitary, Rafael Correa, to prohibit to the civil servants and candidates to the maximum posts to have goods or capital in tax havens.

According to the academic Analía Minteguiaga, the referendum translates in discussing 'what kind of society we want and how we finance that society of good living'.

By its part, Francisco Sierra, an expert in communication policies, said that tax havens are linked to corruption, arms trafficking, human beings and the financing of wars.

'It's a vanguard proposal. If tax havens are not eliminated, we cannot talk about peace in the world, democracy, or respect for human rights.'

The electoral timeline includes anticipated elections for Ecuadorians deprived of liberty, who exercised their rights yesterday, and for people with disabilities, who will vote today.