Elections in Ethiopia

Ethiopian elections are governed by the FDRE Constitution and the Electoral, Political Parties Registration and Election’s Code of Conduct Proclamation No. 1162/2019, as amended by Proclamation No. 1394/2025. General elections normally take place every five years. The 7th General Election was held on 1 June 2026, and NEBE notices determine the applicable timetable, polling arrangements, candidate lists, recounts, re-elections and complaints for that cycle. NEBE is an independent constitutional electoral body. It defines constituencies, establishes polling stations, registers voters, candidates and political parties, accredits observers, provides voter education and election materials, trains election personnel, certifies results and can order an annulment or re-election where the law allows. Political parties need NEBE registration and a certificate of legal personality. Candidates may stand for a party or as independents. A candidate generally must be an Ethiopian citizen, at least 21 years old at registration, registered to stand, resident in the constituency for at least one year or born there, and not legally disqualified. Candidate registration requires a National ID under the 2025 amendment, with alternative identity proof available under an applicable NEBE directive when access to the document is lacking. Ethiopian nationals may register to vote from age 18 if they have lived continuously in the constituency for at least six months. A voter registers at one polling station during the period set by NEBE. A Kebele ID, passport or another current photo ID can establish identity. If no document is available, the election official may accept personal recognition or three confirmed local witnesses under the applicable registration rules. A court or law may exclude a person from voting, including where legal decision-making incapacity has been established. Registration is not an open-ended service; the voter must use the designated NEBE timetable and station or an authorised digital channel where one is provided. The House of Peoples’ Representatives uses single-member constituencies, with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes winning the seat. It has up to 550 seats, including at least 20 seats for minority representation. Regional State Council elections follow regional law and may use multi-member constituencies in which candidates are ranked by votes. The House of Federation is ordinarily selected indirectly by Regional State Councils, although a Regional Council may decide to use direct election. These arrangements mean that the ballot, number of seats and counting rules can differ between national and regional elections. On election day, a registered voter normally votes at the assigned polling station between 6:00 and 18:00. Officials check the voter’s identification, name on the electoral roll and confirmation that the person has not already voted. The voter marks the ballot with an X, check mark or fingerprint as authorised. Voting takes place in secret, and assistance inside the booth is allowed where required. Persons with disabilities, older people, parents with children and pregnant women receive priority under the polling arrangements. A ballot can be rejected when it contains an identifying mark, too many selections, an unclear mark or an unauthorised marking. Polling stations count ballots publicly, display provisional results and preserve and transmit election materials. A constituency body compiles the results, identifies the winner and publishes its provisional result before sending the material to NEBE. NEBE certifies and announces the official result with registered voters, turnout, candidate, party and seat figures, as well as used, unused and discarded ballots and votes by polling station. The ordinary announcement is expected about ten days after election day, but an election-relevant complaint can extend the process to as much as twenty days. Complaints may concern voter registration, candidates, parties, polling conduct or results. The filing levels, deadlines and competent courts depend on the Electoral Proclamation, NEBE directives and the type of dispute. The 2025 amendment replaced the earlier reference to filing a polling-station grievance with the polling-station head; some older NEBE information still uses the former grievance-committee wording, so the current directive and election notice control the procedure. Ethiopia does not have a general voter registration fee in the available rules, but missing identity documents, displacement, distance, pastoral mobility, insecurity and difficulty reaching a polling station can restrict practical access. NEBE may provide special stations for soldiers, civil servants and their families in camps, university students, displaced people and eligible inmates, while mobile stations may serve pastoral areas. The party or coalition with the highest number of House of Peoples’ Representatives seats forms the executive and leads the government. This government-formation consequence follows the election result and does not create a separate election procedure.