Addis Ababa, May 31, 2026 (FMC) — Election materials for Ethiopia’s 7th general election have been fully distributed to polling stations across the country, as electoral authorities confirm that polling stations are now entering the final stage of preparations ahead of the nationwide vote scheduled for tomorrow.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) confirmed that all essential voting materials — including ballot papers, ballot boxes, and other required electoral supplies — have been delivered to polling stations in line with the official national electoral timetable.
According to the Board, the distribution process was carried out in a coordinated and orderly manner, ensuring that polling stations are fully equipped and prepared to facilitate voting operations across all constituencies.
NEBE further stated that polling stations are now undertaking final preparatory activities, including the arrangement of voting sites, completion of logistical requirements, and verification of readiness to ensure a smooth and organized voting process.
The completion of material distribution was described as a key milestone in the electoral calendar, reflecting coordinated national efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful, orderly, and credible election process.
The 7th general election, scheduled for June 1, 2026, will see more than 54 million registered voters expected to participate nationwide, making it one of the largest electoral exercises in the country’s history.
The electoral process is also being observed by African-led and African-owned election observation missions. These include the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission,
headed by former Ugandan Vice President Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe.
The two continental missions have been coordinating their observation and assessment activities ahead of the vote, reflecting strengthened collaboration between African institutions in supporting credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral processes. Their presence highlights growing continental ownership of election observation and broader efforts to advance democratic governance through African-led frameworks.