The National Election Board
of Ethiopia has announced that national elections will be held on May 14, 2000
to elect the Councils of the Federal states and the 550 Parliamentarians for the
House of Peoples' Representatives.
National
elections were last held in May 1995 and the present MP's were elected for a
five-year term of office. The House of Peoples Representatives is one of the two
Houses in the bi-cameral parliament of the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia with members elected on a "first past the post" system. The
other house in the Parliament is the House of the Federation which is not an
upper house but has unique duties and responsibilities to interpret the
Constitution and protect the rights of the nations, nationalities and peoples of
Ethiopia. Its members are selected from the elected members of the Regional
Councils.
The
National Election Board issued the following timetable in preparation for the
elections.
Statement
Issued by the N.E.B.
Regarding
the Time Table for the Execution of the Year 2000 Election of Members of the
House of Peoples Representatives and Regional Council
|
No |
Activity |
Date |
|
1. |
Collection of endorsement signatures, by prospective candidates, within their respective constituencies |
Sept 14 - Dec 8, 1999 |
|
2. |
Period during which Kebele Electoral Offices carry out verification of endorsement signatures |
Nov 20 - Dec 10, 1999 |
|
3. |
Commencement date for the activities of Constituency office |
November 20, 1999 |
|
4. |
Submission of endorsement signatures to Kebele Electoral Offices |
Nov 20 - Dec 8, 1999 |
|
5. |
Verification period of endorsement signatures, by Kebele Electoral Offices |
Nov 20 - Dec 8, 1999 |
|
6. |
Period for possible collection of new endorsement signatures, by prospective candidates, in replacement of disqualified ones and submission of same to Kebele Electoral Offices for further verification |
Nov 20 - Dec 8,1999 |
|
7. |
Handing back of verified endorsement signatures to would - be candidates by Kebele Electoral Offices. |
Nov 20 - Dec 8,1999 |
|
8. |
Submission, by prospective candidates, of endorsement signatures verified by Kebele Electoral Offices, to Constituency Electoral Offices |
Nov 20 - Dec 10, 1999 |
|
9. |
Period for decision on prospective candidates' complaints made by way of appeal |
Dec 11 - Dec 20, 1999 |
|
10. |
Posting of official lists of candidates within respective constituencies and issuance of certificates for candidature |
December 21, 1999 |
|
11. |
Official commencement of campaigning activities |
December 21, 1999 |
|
12. |
Period for registration of voters at polling stations |
Dec 11 - Jan 9, 2000 |
|
13. |
Period for special registration of voters at polling stations |
Jan 12 - Jan 13, 2000 |
|
14. |
Period during which the electoral roll will be open for public scrutiny, at polling stations |
Jan 14 - Jan 19, 2000 |
|
15. |
Orientation to voters on voting procedures, at Kebele level |
May 7, 2000 |
|
16. |
Closing date of campaign activities |
May 11, 2000 |
|
17. |
Polling day |
May 14 |
|
18. |
Counting of ballots at polling stations |
May 14, 2000 as of 6:00 p.m. |
|
19. |
Public announcement of election results at the polling station level |
May 15, 2000 |
|
20. |
Public announcement of election results at the constituency level |
May 20, 2000 |
|
21. |
Verification and official declaration of election results by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, at the nation-wide level |
June 7, 2000 |