More than 46 million Ethiopians have registered to vote in the country’s upcoming general election scheduled for June 1, the electoral commission said, marking a significant mobilisation effort in one of Africa’s most populous nations.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said 46.7 million voters had been registered for the seventh general election, out of a population of about 130 million.
According to the commission, around 25.2 million registered voters are men, while 21.5 million are women, reflecting a relatively balanced gender distribution in the voter roll.
More than 165,000 persons with disabilities have also been registered, highlighting efforts to improve inclusiveness in the electoral process.
Voter registration has been conducted across 46,750 polling stations nationwide, in a large-scale logistical operation aimed at ensuring broad access to the vote in both urban and rural areas.
The electoral body said the distribution of election materials is largely complete, a step officials say is critical to ensuring a smooth and timely voting process in a country with vast geographic and infrastructural challenges.
Originally scheduled to close in early April, the voter registration period has been extended to April 22 to allow more eligible voters to sign up, as preparations for the polls continue.
The extension reflects both strong demand and the complexities of organising elections in a country of Ethiopia’s size and diversity.
The upcoming vote will be the seventh general election in Ethiopia’s modern political history and is being closely watched as a test of the country’s evolving democratic institutions.
In a bid to modernise the electoral system, NEBE earlier this year introduced Ethiopia’s first digital platform for voter and candidate registration.
Officials say the platform is designed to streamline the registration process, improve data accuracy and enhance transparency, while reducing administrative bottlenecks.
The adoption of digital tools marks a significant shift in how elections are managed in the country, where manual systems have traditionally dominated.
Analysts say the scale of voter registration underscores both the opportunities and challenges facing Ethiopia’s electoral process.
“Registering tens of millions of voters is a major achievement,” said a regional political analyst. “But the real test will be in ensuring that the voting process is transparent, credible and accepted by all stakeholders.”
Ethiopia has undergone a series of political reforms in recent years aimed at opening up the political space and strengthening democratic governance.
However, the country has also faced periods of political tension and conflict, which have at times complicated efforts to hold inclusive and peaceful elections.
Ensuring security and accessibility across all regions remains a key concern for authorities as election day approaches.
Observers say the credibility of the vote will depend not only on turnout, but also on the ability of institutions to manage the process effectively, including the resolution of disputes.
The participation of women, young voters and marginalised groups is also expected to be closely monitored as indicators of inclusiveness.
As preparations continue, authorities are focusing on finalising logistics and voter education efforts to ensure that citizens are informed and able to participate fully in the electoral process.
With more than 46 million registered voters, Ethiopia’s upcoming election represents one of the largest democratic exercises on the African continent, with implications for political stability and governance in the region.
