Election

Election 2005
Number of Registration Voters
No. Region Male Female Total
1 Oromia Regional State 4,840,270 4,337,250 9,177,520
2 Amhara Regional State 3,649,292 3,621,480 7,270,772
3 Southern Peoples Regional State 2,639,873 2,461,334 5,101,207
4 Tigray Regional State 745,365 815,915 1,561,316
5 Addis Ababa City Government 612,419 549,523 1,161,942
6 Afar Regional State 474,541 293,310 767,851
7 Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State 127,168 109,132 236,300
8 Gambella Regional State 83,952 67,375 151,327
9 Dire Dawa Council 57,758 52,735 110,495
10 Harari Regional State 35,083 32,035 67,121

Total

 13,265,721 13,340,089 25,605,851

¯ Election in Somali state takes place  in August 2005

To see the Table :- Political Parties/Independent Candidates Running for May Elections Parliament Election (Click Hear)

Election Briefs

Board Prints Candidature Symbol Posters, Ballot Papers

 The National Electoral Board, (NEB) said that it has begun printing posters publicizing political parties and independent candidates' symbols as well as ballot papers for the upcoming May 2005 elections.

            Board Ethics Education and Agitation Senior Expert Mekonnen Wondimu told ENA that the verification of candidate registration documents has been finalized by most part.

            He said the printing has already started for the list of candidates and their candidature symbols are identified.

 CETU Calls on Workers to Participate in Elections

 The leadership of Confederation Ethiopian Trade Unions has underlined how crucial active participation of members is in bringing to the fore a democratically elected government that will protect their rights.

           Opening a two-day training of trainers’ workshop organized by the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), the President, Amare Alemayehu told participants to exert maximum efforts in raising workers’ awareness about the election with a view the boosting their participation.

 Media Organizations Say Working for Free and Fair Elections

 Media organizations say they have been doing their level best to make the upcoming elections free and democratic by dedicating airtime and columns as well as giving due news coverage for contesting parties while campaigning to introduce their programmes.

            The media organizations such as the Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency, the Ethiopian television, the Ethiopian News Agency, the Ethiopian Radio and Radio Fana said that they are working jointly with political parties and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEB) in the run up to the May 2005 elections.

 Oppositions Fail to Show up for Debate on Youth Issues

The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and All Ethiopian Democratic Party (AEDP) have failed to show up for the debate on youth, unemployment and social services organized by the Addis Ababa Youth Association.

            Representatives of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Democratic Front (EPRDF) have dewlt at length on the activities the Front has been undertaking tackle unemployment and expand educational opportunities for the youth.

            The forum organizers said that UEDF informed them that it could not take part in the debate due to disagreements among themselves while AEDP representatives have failed to show up although the party confirmed its participation.

 EU Observers

 The European/Union (EU) has announced that it will delegate more than 160 observers to monitor the May elections in Ethiopia. The EU observers will carry out their duty freely and impartially, says Anna Maria Gomes, the chief observer.

            After talks with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Gomez said that the EU observers have  come to Ethiopia  as per the invitation extended by Ethiopia .

            She said holding free and fair elections as part of the democratization process in Ethiopia will have a significant contribution in boosting the country’s development. 

             The European Union has   recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia to observe the up- coming elections.

           EU envoy to Ethiopia Ambassador Timothy Clark signed the agreement with state Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tekeda Alemu.

  NEBE Launches Website, Press, Public Information Unit

 The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has launched a website and set up a press and public information unit.

            The board said the development of the website and establishment of the press and public information unit is part of the efforts geared to keep the people abreast of the situations in the run-up for the upcoming election slated for May, 15, 2005.

      The website, www.electionsethiopia.org , imparts information about the organization, procedures, the legal framework of the whole electoral process latest developments in the sphere.