Africa-Press – Ethiopia. May 17, 2025 2 minutes read Addis Abeba– The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced the launch of the second phase of registering polling stations using a digital system, as part of its ongoing preparations for the 7th round of national election.
In a statement, NEBE said it is carrying out “various preparations” aimed at making the electoral process “more efficient and modern” than previous ones. The Board stated that the current process is designed to “meet contemporary requirements.”
NEBE explained that the digital registration process focuses on identifying polling stations based on “distance, geographical location, and accessibility to voters,” and ensuring that stations are established “according to the law.” The Board added that compiling information in a “comprehensive and organized” manner is also a key component of the effort.
To facilitate this, NEBE said it is using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to register the precise locations of polling stations, employing what it described as an “‘XY Coordinate’ mapping system.”
The Board stated that during the first phase of registration, which concluded earlier this year, 3,495 polling stations were registered in the Sidama, Dire Dawa, and Harari regional states, as well as in the Gedeo Zone of the South Ethiopia region.
According to NEBE, the second phase began on May 11, 2025, and covers 9,643 polling stations in the South Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, and South-West Ethiopia regional states, in addition to the Jimma Zone in Oromia.
NEBE also announced that the registration process will continue in the Somali, Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Gambella regions beginning June 2, 2025, and is expected to expand to the remaining regions in July 2025. All phases of registration will use the same “XY Coordinate” digital mapping system.
The statement from NEBE comes days after four opposition political parties — the All Ethiopia Unity Party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), Enat Party, and the Amhara Ghionians Movement — jointly called for urgent political and security reforms ahead of the upcoming national election.
In a statement released on May 12, 2025, the parties warned that the prevailing conditions “threaten the credibility” of the electoral process. They stated that “with only one year remaining” until the constitutional deadline for the elections, there has been “no word from the government or the legally mandated National Election Board regarding the election or ongoing preparations.” Citing Article 58 of the FDRE Constitution, they noted that the election is expected to be held in 2026 and warned that failure to meet this timeline could undermine public trust in democratic processes.
According to the statement, the parties said that a “free, fair, and credible election” is the only way to “break the cycle of war” and address the country’s “oppression, suppression, and suffering.” However, they asserted that such an election “requires a naturally peaceful arena,” which they said “does not reflect the current situation.” The statement claimed that war has “intensified” in the Amhara and Oromia regions, and that the Tigray region is “largely not under federal government control.” AS
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