Ethiopia heads to the polls on Monday June 1st 2026 in an election that the ruling party is predicted to win by a landslide due to a fragmented and weak opposition.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party currently holds more than 500 seats in the House of Representatives and is expected to win a majority in this election, securing him another five-year term.
Some 50 million people, out of a population of 130 million Ethiopians, are expected to vote for members of the House of Representatives, but insecurity in the most populous regions, including Amhara and Oromia, is expected to affect turnout.
Ethiopia’s electoral system allows voters to select their representatives, who then vote for a prime minister. Ethiopians will also vote for members of their local regional government councils.
The electoral body has declared Monday June 1st 2026 a national holiday, with government offices closed to encourage citizens to vote.
