A constitutional referendum was held in Ecuador on 15 January 1978.

[1] Voters were asked whether they wanted a new constitution or a revised version of the existing constitution.

The former option was approved by 57% of voters, although around invalid votes accounted for a quarter of those cast, with many cast in protest at not having the option of returning to the 1945 constitution.

[1] Following a military coup in 1972, in 1976 the military government formed three commissions to assist with the transition back to civil rule.

One group was to draft a new constitution, one was to revise the 1945 constitution, and one to create laws on political parties, local elections and the referendum.