The National Electoral Council of Ecuador (CNE) inaugurated local elections in the South American country on Sunday, in which voters will elect 5,651 local leadership positions out of 27,895 candidates.

Some 11.6 million Ecuadorians are called to exercise their right to vote. Ecuadorians will elect 221 mayors, 46 prefects and vice prefects, 867 urban councilors, 438 rural councilors and 4, 079 parish members in the local elections.

Two positions, mayor of Ecuador's capital city Quito and mayor of its largest city Guayaquil, are the focus that the ruling party -- Alianza PAIS and the opposition contend most drastically.

"The elections will allow the restructuring of local leadership, which will lead the destiny of Ecuadorians in a new way," said Domingo Paredes, chairman of the electoral body, at the opening ceremony at the CNE headquarters in Quito on the election day.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa was also present at the ceremony. "A vote with infinite love and confidence is yet to come. The elections serve to complete the true democracy and good life in our country," said Correa.

This is the 10th elections held during his term in office, noted Correa, since he won the presidential election in 2006.

Voting opened at 07:00 local time and run until 17:00 (12:00 to 22:00 GMT). Voting is compulsory for Ecuadorians between 18 and 65 years and optional for those over 65 and foreign residents.

Some 158 international observers from organizations such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Organization of American States (OAS) will monitor the elections. More than 70, 000 military and local police will be in charge of security during the day.