Board Chairman Praises Voters and Election
Staff
16 May 2005
The
chairman of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia,
Kemal Bedri, today praised voters and polling staff
for the enthusiasm and perseverance they displayed
during election day.
Kemal
said reports from polling stations countrywide showed
that balloting in the third federal and regional elections
was conducted in a generally smooth, efficient and
peaceful manner.
The
high voter turnout, estimated to be more than 90 per
cent, caused lengthy delays in some polling stations,
particularly in the capital. The chairman said the
board appreciated the dedication of polling station
officials who worked throughout the night in a number
of stations in the Kotebe and Ayer Tena areas of Addis
Ababa.
He
also praised the determination of voters at these
stations who queued until early today to exercise
their democratic right.
“The
determination of the people to exercise their democratic
rights is a sure guarantee that democracy is here
to stay,” the Chairman said.
The
chairman said the board would immediately examine
the causes of the bottlenecks at Kotebe and Ayer Tena
polling stations to ensure that steps are taken so
that such delays are avoided for future elections.
Deputy
Head of the Secretariat of the Board, Tesfaye Mengesha,
said that in two polling stations in Gamo Gofa zone
in the south balloting did not take place because
the stations received the wrong ballot papers. The
correct ballot papers will be sent in the coming days
and preparations are in place for a deferred ballot.
Tesfaye
also stated that at polling stations in Jimma and
Alemaya universities in the east and southern part
of the country, ballot papers for some constituencies
were not sent due to problems during the registration
of students. The Board has decided that the small
number of students affected by this problem would
be allowed to vote in the coming days.
With
counting completed in some polling stations and still
underway in others, Kemal outlined the results procedure.
Initially,
provisional results for both the House of People’s
Representatives and Regional Councils will be publicly
announced and posted at polling stations. The polling
station results will then be collated at constituency
electoral offices, where the candidates with the highest
number of votes will be declared successful.
A
complaints handling process is in place and political
parties can submit their complaints at polling stations,
constituencies or NEBE headquarters.
The
NEBE will produce provisional consolidated results
by 21 May 2005. The chairman will announce final results
by 8 June 2005.
For
further information please contact:
Press
Officer: Getahun Amogne Tel: 251-9-643738
Assistant
Press Officer: Hiwot Alemayehu Tel: 251-9-487576
E-mail
us: info@electionsethiopia.org
