Ethiopia’s National Election Board (NEBE) has announced the successful completion of the country’s 7th General Election, marking the end of nationwide voting conducted on June 1, 2026.
Speaking in Addis Ababa on June 2, 2026, NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu confirmed that polling, which began at 6:00 a.m. on June 1, concluded successfully across the country. She noted that although long queues were observed in parts of Addis Ababa, the process remained orderly overall.
Melatwork added that vote counting is still ongoing in several regions, including Sidama, Gambella, Amhara and Somali, meaning final turnout figures are yet to be consolidated. She said complaints received through official channels, including the election hotline, were being addressed, with investigations underway where necessary.
The Board also stated that results already verified at polling station level have been publicly displayed, while constituency-level aggregation and validation continue.
Earlier on June 2, 2026, NEBE commended citizens for participating peacefully and urged the public to rely only on official results. The Government Communication Service also described the election as peaceful and historic, citing strong voter participation across the country, which has more than 54 million registered voters.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed praised citizens for their civic engagement, while President Taye Atske Selassie described the election as a milestone in Ethiopia’s democratic and national development journey. NEBE has assured that the remaining stages of the electoral process will be completed in line with legal frameworks, transparency standards and established procedures.