Eliminación del financiamiento estatal a candidatos presidenciales en Ecuador: Hacia un sistema electoral más eficiente

Abstract

This research analyzes the impact of the excessive number of presidential candidates in Ecuador on public electoral spending, highlighting how this phenomenon has placed a considerable financial burden on the State. The lack of representativity filters has allowed multiple candidates to access public funding regardless of their actual citizen support, resulting in inefficient use of public resources. This situation has weakened fiscal sustainability and limited investments in key areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, ultimately affecting the quality of democratic processes in the country. The study argues that eliminating the excess of publicly funded candidacies is essential to optimizing public resource allocation. Through a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, legal sources, comparative experiences, and citizens' perceptions were analyzed to formulate reform proposals. The research proposes the implementation of technical criteria—such as mandatory primaries, verified signature collection, or prior representation thresholds—as prerequisites for accessing electoral financing. This would ensure that only candidates with real support receive public funds, promoting a more sustainable and transparent electoral system aligned with successful international practices.