Digital registration is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process

January 22, 2018

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEB) announced that it has developed a digital registration system for candidates and voters for the 7th General Election scheduled for May 24, 2018.

This landmark transformation reflects Ethiopia’s broader vision under the Digital Ethiopia 2030 strategy, which seeks to embed technology into governance, accountability, and inclusive development.

To modernize the election process, NEBE introduced two software packages, moving decisively away from paper-based procedures. This technology enabled approach is a central pillar of the Board’s five-year strategic plan and signals Ethiopia’s readiness to adopt internationally recognized practices that safeguard electoral integrity. By ensuring candidates and voters are registered promptly and securely, the system strengthens democratic rights and roots confidence in the electoral process.

The NEBE emphasized that digital registration will save time and resources while addressing long-standing challenges in data management. In this year’s election, more than 30,000 of the 55,000 constituencies will implement digital registration, underscoring Ethiopia’s commitment to efficiency, transparency, and modernization.

Beyond logistics, this initiative is a transformative step toward accountability and trust-building. As part of Digital Ethiopia 2030, it demonstrates how electoral modernization contributes to the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Overall, by enhancing the credibility of election results and fostering citizen confidence, digital registration paves the way for inclusive growth, technology-driven development, and democratic resilience, key pillars of Ethiopia’s long-term reform and digital sovereignty.