Quito - Voters began heading to the polls Sunday in Ecuador in a referendum on the country's new referendum which leftist President Rafael Correa has billed as also being a decision affecting the future model for society. The atmosphere as Ecuadorians began voting was described as calm, amid latest polls indicating that the referendum would garner the more than 50 per cent backing needed for approval.
Over 9 million people were set to go to the polls, with voting being compulsory. If approved, the proposal will also entail early presidential and legislative elections.
Exit poll results were set to be made public when polls close, while official results were set to take at least 10 days.
Constitutional reform was one of the core promises made by Correa in his alection campaign. The new constitution would give the president greater powers.
Correa has said the new constitution would end "the long night of neo-liberalism" and kick off a "civil revolution" in the direction of "21st century-socialism."
The opposition has charged that Correa wants to increase his powers and has blasted the draft constitution as a copy of the "dictatorship" of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that will scare off foreign investment and hamper broader economic success.
Correa has said he would resign if the referendum is defeated.
