Election time

For several months now many candidates have been promoting their agendas and putting up flags,  banners and posters. They drive around with loud speakers and try to gain popularity.  Since it is rainy season one of the things they have been doing is improving the streets and drainage systems,  going around to the smaller communities and helping with their individual problems hoping to gain votes.

This guy happens to be local San Jacinto and so of course is the popular choice here. He is running against the current "Mayor of Sucre" and another man, one who was early to get his banners out, must have dropped out of the running, because I havent seen his red banners anywhere lately. Sucre is our County and Manabi is our province. 

Many a rally and parade in the past several months and some people get very energized,  and others just dont seem to care. (Like many countries) One thing here is on election weekend there are no alcohol sales, and they ask you not to consume either. I understand, I have lived in other places where they want the voters clear headed and not inebriated.  It is mandatory here to vote between ages 18-65 and with so many people living in out laying areas volunteers actually go out and collect votes,  thus the 3 day ban on drinking. They start Friday at noon and elections go thru Sunday at noon. Invalid people and those without transport get to vote from home,  wow what a different concept, others will go to their local schools and vote on Sunday.

Expats get all worried that they will run out of alcohol,  but in my 5 yrs here, since most of us aren't eligible to vote (must be a citizen, not just a resident) they sell to us. So...as always, stay tuned...the adventure continues.