The National Election Board of Ethiopia has strongly condemned threats against citizens, including warnings that failure to collect voter registration cards could result in salary cuts, describing such actions as illegal and unacceptable.
In a statement issued on April 3, 2026, the Board said it had received reports of legal violations during the voter registration process, including door-to-door campaigns pressuring citizens to collect voter cards during a sensitive pre-election period. It also highlighted cases where voter registration was improperly linked to access to social services or tied to threats of salary deductions.
In response, the Board warned that it will publicly expose individuals and institutions involved in such coercive practices. It further cautioned that if corrective measures are not taken, it may escalate its response, including identifying constituencies and polling stations where undue influence is exerted and suspending voting in those areas.
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In light of this, NEBE has formally instructed all regional governments and the two city administrations to ensure that officials refrain from conducting door-to-door mobilization campaigns and cease any actions that treat voter registration as mandatory or apply undue pressure on citizens. It clarified that voter registration is not compulsory, and that failure to register cannot legally result in salary cuts, dismissal from employment, or denial of social services.
The Board emphasized that no authority has the right to force individuals to register as voters, either through house-to-house campaigns or workplace coercion. It reiterated that voting is a constitutional right that must be exercised voluntarily and free from any form of intimidation.
