Public trust in electronic voting in Ecuador

In 2014, about one million Ecuadorian voters used computer-based ballots rather than paper ballots for a series of local elections. It was the first large-scale use of electronic voting in this country and it represented a unique opportunity to link voting technology and trust in an electoral process. Based on a unique face-to-face survey of more than 10.000 Ecuadorian voters, this paper explores the individual factors that have an impact on confidence in e-voting in a developing country. Classic hypotheses regarding gender, age, education, occupation and digital skills will be tested, but two specific variables will be taken into account as they are particularly relevant for the Ecuadorian case: the rural/urban divide and ethnicity (i.e. indigenous groups). The paper will also test the impact of the large information and training campaigns sponsored by the Ecuadorian electoral management body on public confidence in e-voting in this country.