The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has extended the voter registration deadline which ended on April 23, 2021 by over two weeks.
In a statement issued late on Friday, the board said more than 18.4 million voters have been registered so far to vote in general election scheduled for June 5, 2021.
Lower number of voters’ registration during the past one month due to security and logistics challenges has compelled the board to extend the registration period.
The board has managed to register 80 percent of the electorate in Sidama and Oromia regions as well as Addis Ababa city and Dire Dawa administrations.
The performance in the remaining regions, however, was 51 percent and below.
The Board said there have been improvements in the number of voter registration compared to last week including in areas where it started late as in the case of Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia.
The new deadlines are not all the same. Some places have longer deadlines than others.
In Somali and Afar regions, where voter registration started late due to security and other issues, it is extended up to May 14, 2021.
In areas where it was paused after it was started due to a combination of factors including security, the new deadline is May 7, 2021.
MG/as/APA