NEBE Holds Discussions with University Presidents on Student Electoral Participation Ahead of the 7th General Election

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) held a discussion on January 27, 2026, with leaders of higher education institutions and representatives from the Ministry of Education.

The purpose of the discussion was to establish a convenient mechanism that enables students studying at public universities far from their electoral districts to participate in the upcoming 7th General Election.

In accordance with the Ethiopian Electoral, Political Parties Registration and Election Code of Conduct Proclamation No. 1162/2019, Article 17, Sub-Articles (1) and (4), NEBE is mandated to establish special polling stations. These stations are intended to enfranchise citizens living far from their constituencies, including members of the military residing in camps, civil servants and their families, students attending higher education institutions, internally displaced persons, and incarcerated citizens whose voting rights have not been revoked.

In his opening remarks, NEBE Deputy Chairperson Tesfaye Niway emphasized that strengthening the country’s democratic system requires creating an enabling environment for students in higher education institutions to exercise their right to vote.

He further stated that the most effective approach for electoral implementation is for students to register at special polling stations established at their universities and then return to their respective electoral districts to cast their ballots.

During the discussion, university leaders and Ministry of Education representatives raised various concerns, which were addressed by the Deputy Chairperson and the Head of the Election Operations Department.

It was also discussed that the Ministry of Education and institutions accountable to the Ministry should make adjustments to the academic calendar to accommodate student voter registration at university based special polling stations and allow students sufficient time to travel to their home constituencies to vote. Additionally, NEBE provided explanations regarding its preparations for conducting the 7th General Election. These preparations include the implementation of a technology-oriented candidate and voter registration system, the establishment of special polling stations, the recruitment of polling staff, and other operational and logistical arrangements.