NEBE Receives More Than Half of Provisional Constituency Results

25 May 2005

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has so far received provisional results from 270 of the 524 constituencies throughout the country. The 270 constituency results have already been made publicly available at the NEBE offices and placed onto the Board’s database and website (www.electionsethiopia.org). More results are expected in the next couple of days.

“We are doing very well in ensuring that provisional results are known across Ethiopia as early as possible,” said Kemal Bedri, NEBE Chairman. “At this tempo, we will make all provisional results, except disputed ones, available to the public much earlier than the official date for announcing results on 8 June 2005. This is a significant contribution towards the improved transparency of the electoral process.”

Kemal admitted that results from some remote polling stations took longer time to reach constituency electoral offices, mainly due to poor infrastructure and communication facilities. Provisional results in some constituencies were also delayed to allow complaints from candidates and political parties to be reviewed. “However, by now almost all the 524 constituencies have completed their results and announced them to the local public.” For the first time, the NEBE is ensuring that provisional constituency results are also being published centrally as soon as they arrive at the NEBE offices.

In response to concerns raised by a 24 May statement from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Kemal said “The NEBE Secretariat is in full control of the counting and aggregation process in each constituency. Our electoral officers are keeping us fully informed.” The EU EOM had criticised that delays by constituencies may lead to manipulation of results. “All procedures at constituency level are undertaken in full view of observers and political party representatives,” Kemal added.

Responding to the announcements by political parties of their results, he said that parties could get information from their representatives at each polling station and constituency office. “Each party may claim to have won seats in parliament based on their information. However, the final and official results have to be announced by the Board on 8 June 2005,” Kemal said.

Members of the NEBE Secretariat professional legal staff are reviewing all complaints that have been submitted by political parties in relation to election day and the counting and results processes. The Board is expected to pass decisions on most of these complaints in its formal session tomorrow.

For further information please contact:
Press Officer: Getahun Amogne Tel: 251-9-643738
Assistant Press Officer: Hiwot Alemayehu Tel: 251-9-487576