Millions of Ethiopians cast vote in 7th general election

ADDIS ABABA — Polling stations opened across Ethiopia on Monday as millions of voters were set to cast their ballots in the country's seventh general election.

According to the National Election Board of Ethiopia, more than 54 million people, out of the country's estimated 130 million population, are registered to vote, with youth and women forming a significant number of the electorate.

After about 52,000 polling stations opened at 6 am, voters waited in long lines from early morning in the capital, Addis Ababa.

In line with the constitution, voters would primarily elect their representatives for the House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower chamber of the Parliament, as well as members of various regional state councils.

Debele Kebeta, commissioner of the Ethiopian Customs Commission, voted at Woreda 8 Polling Station in Addis Ababa.

"The high turnout shows how Ethiopians are committed to shaping the future of their country through the ballot box," he said.

At a polling station in Alem Bank neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital, Khalid Bahru, 23, was waiting for his turn among a large crowd, marking his first participation in an election.

"I came here very motivated, as this is my first experience of voting," Bahru told Xinhua News Agency."Even though I arrived here before 7 am, there were already countless voters awaiting their turn."

The young voter emphasized his commitment to exercising his right "by voting for a party capable of ushering the country to a better future".

The voting process would last for one day, as all workplaces across the country — except essential service providers — are closed on the election day to facilitate smooth voting.

Data from the national election board showed that a total of 42 political parties are contesting in the election, fielding more than 10,000 candidates under their banners. Eighty independent contestants are also running to secure seats in the lower house and regional legislatures.

In Ethiopia, the political party or a coalition that secures the majority of seats in the lower chamber forms the government and selects the prime minister, who holds the highest executive power.

The ruling Prosperity Party is widely expected to secure majority in the House of Peoples' Representatives, which will enable it to form the government. During the 2021 election, the party won 410 seats out of 484 contested in the lower house.

International observers, mainly from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, have been deployed across the country to monitor the electoral process.

XINHUA