Understanding Ethiopias Election Process for Voters

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Ethiopia Holds General Election

On Monday, Ethiopians are set to cast their votes in a general election to select members of parliament. The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has confirmed that 47 political parties and over 10,900 candidates will be participating in the contest.

According to official voter registration figures, more than 50 million Ethiopians are registered to vote, with women making up around half of the electorate. The median age of the population is approximately 19 years, according to United Nations estimates, which may influence the voting demographics.

The election brings together various political parties and coalitions under Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary system. In this system, the government is formed through a parliamentary majority, with members of parliament selecting the prime minister.

Several major parties are fielding candidates in the contest, including:

• The Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which holds a majority in the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
• The National Movement of Amhara, a regional party operating mainly in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
• The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice, a national political party led by Berhanu Nega.

Additionally, an alliance of smaller regional parties known as the Peace for Ethiopia coalition is also participating. This coalition includes member parties such as the Agew National Council and the Tigray Democratic Cooperation.

Regional parties are contesting seats across various federal and regional constituencies, with a focus on regional governance, local autonomy, and development.

Source: Al Jazeera