NEBE proposes holding general elections in May or June

Addis Ababa, October 30, 2020 (FBC) –The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has proposed holding the six general elections in late May or early June, 2021.

The board’s remarks came today during a consultative meeting organized for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media to discuss precautionary measures against COVID-19 during voting.

On the occasion, the NEBE officials proposed conducting the elections in the last two weeks of May or the first two weeks of June, 2021.

The board also requested additional 1.1 billion birr for COVID-19 precautionary measures and deployment of more manpower at polling centres.

The board suggested providing training for poll workers from mid-December to mid-January and conducting voters’ registration from mid-January to 3rd week of February.

It also proposed registering candidates beginning from early to mid-February and holding election campaign from mid-February till election’s last week .

The board further announced plans to form a taskforce to monitor the implementation of COVID-19 precautionary measures during voting.

Birtukan Mideksa, chairperson of NEBE, called on finance and health ministries as well as security officials and other stakeholders to fulfil their responsibilities for the success of the election.

By  Baharu Yidnekachew