50.5 million voters registered for Ethiopia’s seventh general election, NEBE announces

Addis Ababa, April 24, 2026 (FMC) — The National Election Board of Ethiopia has confirmed the successful registration of 50.5 million voters for Ethiopia’s upcoming seventh general election, marking the completion of a key phase in the electoral process.

Briefing the media following the official close of voter registration, NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu announced that a total of 50,514,155 citizens have been registered to cast their ballots.

The voter registration exercise, which began on 7 March, formally concluded on April 22, 2026. The process was conducted through a hybrid system, combining digital and in-person approaches. Citizens registered either via the “Mirchaye” mobile application or by appearing at designated polling stations nationwide.

According to the Chairperson, more than 5.5 million voters were registered through the digital platform, while the majority completed their registration through in-person procedures.

Melatwork also indicated that the Board had finalized candidate registration earlier, conducted from January 9 to February 8, 2026, as part of its broader preparations for the election.

The Board described the overall process as successfully executed, underscoring a major milestone in the lead-up to Ethiopia’s seventh general election.