Voting Age Revised to Include Youth Turning 18 by Election Day
KEYIR NEWS - In a landmark move set to recalibrate the democratic landscape, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has unveiled key revisions to the country’s electoral legal framework, aimed at enhancing inclusivity and widening voter engagement.
The amended “Ethiopian Election, Political Party Registration and Electoral Code of Conduct Proclamation (1162/2011)”, approved by Parliament earlier this month, was introduced to media professionals at a briefing by Chief Chairperson Melatwerk Hailu. She underlined that the revision of 26 core articles is not merely a technical exercise, but a strategic commitment to enfranchisement and political equity.
Among the most significant changes is a new provision allowing citizens who will turn 18 by election day to register and vote, remedying a procedural gap that previously disenfranchised thousands of first-time voters.
The amendment also reduces the number of required support signatures for female candidates and persons with disabilities, removing structural barriers that have historically hindered marginalised groups from contesting elections.
In a bold recalibration of political accountability, the proclamation now grants the Election Board the authority to impose sanctions of up to five years on political parties found in breach of the code, without the immediate resort to full suspension. This shift, officials say, strikes a balance between discipline and political continuity.
“These reforms are not just legal corrections, they are democratic instruments,” said Melatwerk. “They empower citizens, especially the young, women, and the underrepresented, while strengthening the integrity of our electoral process.”
As Ethiopia approaches another electoral cycle, the amendments are widely seen as a test of the country’s resolve to institutionalise credible and participatory democracy, amid a complex and evolving political climate.