Addis Ababa: The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced that digital voting will be used for the next general elections, scheduled for mid-2026.
Speaking at a high-level forum on the integration of digital technologies into the country's electoral system for the first time on Tuesday, Melatwork Hailu, chairperson of the board, said the upcoming elections will be fully supported by an integrated digital system, marking a significant step toward the modernization of Ethiopia's electoral process.
The chairperson said NEBE is rolling out a range of digital initiatives to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of elections nationwide. "These include the launch of comprehensive digital platforms for both candidate registration and voter enrollment, two critical pillars of the electoral system."
The chairperson reaffirmed the board's commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen democratic institutions and build a robust, technology-driven election management system as a major milestone toward conducting fair and credible elections.
Designed entirely by NEBE's in-house technical team, the new technology is expected to reduce administrative costs, save time, and streamline the overall election process.
The digital voting system is expected to meet international standards, allowing voters and candidates to register and cast their votes from remote areas, thereby significantly minimizing logistical challenges.
Ethiopia conducts general elections every five years.
