Ethiopia Prepares for Landmark Democratic Exercise on June 1

Addis Ababa, May 29, 2026 — Ethiopia is set to hold its 7th General Election on Monday, June 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country’s democratic journey.

Voting will take place nationwide from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., according to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

A total of 50,514,155 voters have been successfully registered to participate in the election, making it one of the largest electoral processes in the country’s history.

More than 5.5 million voters completed their registration through the digital “Mirchaye” mobile application, while the remaining registrations were conducted manually at polling stations across the country.

NEBE launched the “Mirchaye” application as part of efforts to modernize voter and candidate registration by enabling remote registration, streamlining election management, and improving transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in the electoral process.

The Board stated that the 7th General Election provides a platform for political parties to present their policy alternatives and ideas to the public.

To strengthen informed political participation, NEBE organized training sessions and practical exercises on election campaigning and debate skills aimed at helping voters better understand the programs and policy directions of competing political parties.

Continuous consultations involving media and communication professionals were carried out to enhance the structure and effectiveness of political debates, allowing parties to engage in discussions that moved beyond traditional formats.

According to NEBE, the debate process further created opportunities for university students and representatives of independent institutions to directly raise questions to political parties on various national issues.

Observers from the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and domestic civil society organizations are expected to monitor the election process.

In addition, 37 media institutions have received reporting permits, while 1,131 journalists have been accredited to cover the electoral proceedings nationwide.