The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) is preparing to dispatch a taskforce to conduct security assessments across the country as the public prepares to head to the polls in a little over a month’s time.
The assessment comes as preparations for the seventh national elections enter their final phase against a backdrop of discontent among opposition parties, glaring security concerns, logistical hurdles, and budgetary concerns.
Melatwork Hailu, NEBE chair, had indicated the taskforce will include representatives from political parties, civil society organizations, and election observers operating in areas identified as security-sensitive.
The teams are tasked with assessing conditions on the ground and providing recommendations aimed at ensuring a safer electoral environment in regions facing heightened risk, according to election officials.
Opposition parties and the NEBE have been in disagreement over official security assessments. Last month, the Board published a map portraying the vast majority of constituencies as safe and ready to conduct voting. Opposition figures responded by saying they have not been able to field candidates or conduct campaigns in many of the constituencies the Board had highlighted in green on the map.
Meanwhile, election officials say more than 50 million citizens (27.4 million men and 23.1 women) have registered to vote on June 1, 2026. Five million of them registered online.
A total of 195,000 electoral administrators have been deployed nationwide, and around 70,000 of them have already received payments totaling one billion Birr, according to the NEBE. They are deployed at nearly 49,000 polling stations across 614 constituencies.
The government has allocated 10 billion Birr for the election process; however, officials stated that the amount is insufficient under current operational demands, prompting a formal request for additional funding, which is still pending a response.
Political parties have received a total of 81 million Birr to facilitate their engagement in the election process, and the Board confirmed that 37 media organizations have been accredited for election coverage, with 1,131 journalists issued official press badges.
In addition, 169 civil society organizations have been registered as election observers. International observation missions from the African Union and IGAD are also expected to monitor the electoral process.
Officials acknowledged that electoral activities have faced challenges in parts of Oromia, Amhara, Harar, and Sidama regions, where some polling sites were disrupted due to alleged irregular voter registration practices.
Nationwide, 22 polling stations have been closed following reported irregularities.
Regarding Tigray, officials say they have no open communication lines with the TPLF, which itself is no longer qualified to take part in an election.
With preparations accelerating, officials confirmed that the 7th national election will be held in less than six weeks, marking the final stretch toward election day as the newly announced security review committee prepares to begin its assessment work next week.
