Election polls to vote for a new president in Ecuador started on Sunday, with eight frontrunners competing for the position, in a political climate shrouded with violence. 

As of now, left-wing politician Luisa Gonzalez is leading the race, followed by former Ecuadorian President Otto Sonnenholzner and Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez.

The other candidates are Christian Zurita, who replaced slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio in the Coalition Movement, and businessman and economist Jan Topic.

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The elections are taking place under a state of emergency which was declared after Villavicencio was assassinated on August 9 during a campaign rally.

The winners of the first round must either receive an absolute majority of votes or more than 40% of the votes on the condition that their lead over the nearest competitor is at least 10%. 

If this fails to happen, a second round of votes will take place on October 15. 

The new President will only be serving until new elections are held on May 24, 2025. 

Earlier in May this year, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso issued a decree to dissolve the parliament, a move that triggered impeachment proceedings against him.

Right after the impeachment, the presidential elections were announced. 

Read more: Violence in Ecuador stemming from 'subservience to the US': Activist