Experience in Strengthening Electronic Democracy. Case of the Province of Santo Domingo of the Tsáchilas—Ecuador

This study presents the experience of promoting electronic participation (e-participation) practices in the Provincial Delegation of the National Electoral Council (CNE in Spanish) in the province of Santo Domingo of the Tsáchilas—Ecuador. The experience uses information and communication technologies (ICT) in electoral processes within both state institutions and the civil society of the province. This approach has led to significant improvements in terms of reliability, efficiency, and transparency, as perceived and valued by the citizens. The study highlights how the integration of ICT in democratic processes can be a crucial catalyst for strengthening citizen e-participation and electronic democracy (e-democracy). The analysis presented in this study will advocate for the feasibility of implementing more efficient electoral processes, underscored by enhanced reliability and transparency, for the election of national, subnational, and local authorities, as well as other civil society-specific elections, by employing information and communication technologies (ICT). This approach is posited to substantially contribute to the reinforcement of democratic systems both in Ecuador and the broader regional context.