Ecuadoreans vote for president in election marred by candidate's murder

FILE PHOTO: A combination photo shows Ecuadorean presidential candidate Otto Sonnenholzner talks to the media, in Guayaquil, Ecuador August 14, 2023, Ecuadorean presidential candidate Christian Zurita poses for a photograph, in Quito, Ecuador August 15, 2023, Ecuadorean presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez attends a campaign event, in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023, Ecuadorean presidential candidate Yaku Perez attends a campaign event, in Guayaquil, Ecuador August 9, 2023 and Ecuadorean presidential candidate Jan Topic addresses the media, in Guayaquil, Ecuador August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Vicente Gaibor del Pino/Henry Romero/Karen Toro/File Photo

QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuadoreans were voting on Sunday to choose a president and legislature they hope will lead the country out of a spiral of violence and economic troubles after a campaign darkened by bloodshed.

Candidates have pledged to fight sharp increases in crime, which the current government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy, whose woes have caused an uptick in unemployment and migration.