NEBE Could Postpone Election Day by Weeks

ADDIS ABABA – The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has postponed parliamentary elections due on June 5 by weeks, according to state television.

Initially, election officials had a plan to hold the vote in August 2020 but it was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Birtukan Mideksa, chairperson of the Electoral Board, said that delays in opening polling stations and voters’ registration have pushed the voting day.

Furthermore, the delays in the printing of ballot papers by ten days and recruitment of election supervisors required postponement.

The polling day could be postponed by 2-3 weeks, said the board.

The NEBE has already communicated its decision to political parties during a consultative meeting it held with their leaders on the voters’ registration process on Saturday.

Apart from the parliamentary vote, the election day for the two city administration and regional states, which was due on June 12, will be changed.

The polling day for all would be announced soon, according to the NEBE.

The board has also decided to hold the election on same day across the country based on the discussions it had with the Political Parties Joint Council.