Core Points - Ecuador held a referendum on whether to allow foreign military bases, among other issues, with voting starting at 7 AM local time and preliminary results expected the same evening [1] - Over 13.9 million voters are eligible to participate in the referendum, which includes questions on constitutional amendments, budget allocations to political parties, and reducing the number of National Assembly members [1] - The voting process will conclude at 5 PM local time, followed by the counting of votes, with over 800 observers monitoring the process and more than 100,000 military and police personnel ensuring security [1] - President Noboa has emphasized the need for foreign military intervention to combat serious violence issues, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and transnational organized crime [1]