Security Issues Keep 143 Polling Stations Closed
No fewer than 143 polling stations across constituencies in the Amhara and Oromia regions did not open their doors to voters today in light of security concerns, the chair of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) revealed during a press briefing. Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of polling stations were forced to close early for […]
Black News 
No fewer than 143 polling stations across constituencies in the Amhara and Oromia regions did not open their doors to voters today in light of security concerns, the chair of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) revealed during a press briefing.
Meanwhile, an undisclosed number of polling stations were forced to close early for similar reasons, Chairperson Melatwork Hailu told the media at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, where electoral officials have set up a monitoring station to oversee the seventh national election.
Areas where voting started early this morning but has since been interrupted include Kersa, Kutaber, Gilolopa, and Gosache. It is unclear how many voters will be unable to cast their ballots as a result of these closures.
More than 50,000 of the 52,000 polling stations set up across Ethiopia opened on time, while close to 700 of them experienced delays, according to Melatwork. Election officials say complications with online voter registration data have caused delays, leading to longer queues and waiting times at stations.
The NEBE chair also disclosed an election facilitator lost his life following a motorcycle accident in Enamorena Enayer, Gurage Zone, earlier today.
