Election observation
Goal 2 of our Strategic Plan: enhance free, fair and transparent elections across the electoral cycle and referenda. Through our members we recruit, train and deploy non-partisan citizen observers, run a data centre and situation room, monitor the media and publish findings.
Why it matters
Citizens watching their own elections
Citizen observation lets Ethiopians see for themselves how their elections are run. Systematic, impartial observation builds public confidence, deters and exposes malpractice, and gives NEBE and lawmakers evidence to improve the process.
CECOE was the first civil society coalition invited by NEBE to observe a referendum, in Sidama in 2019, and has observed every general election and statehood referendum since.
How we work
- 1Before election day
Long-term observers follow voter registration, the campaign, civic space and NEBE’s preparations, and CECOE publishes pre-election findings.
- 2On election day
Stationary and mobile observers, deployed proportionally to polling stations, report by coded SMS to the data centre and situation room.
- 3Public statements
Midday, preliminary and final reports in Amharic and English, with critical incidents verified and referred to NEBE.
- 4After the vote
Post-election observation, findings workshops with stakeholders and lessons-learned reviews that shape the next mission.
Programmes under goal 2
Objectives 2.1 to 2.3 of our Strategic Plan, every mission since 2019 and the projects behind them.
Improve knowledge and skill in election monitoring and observation.
Reduce election malpractices throughout the election cycle.
Decrease media-related malpractices during the election cycle.
Observation missions since 2019
Every major electoral process since 2019
Observers deployed per mission
- 2019Sidama referendumFirst CSO invited by NEBE to observe a referendum · Report →210
- 20216th General ElectionJune and September polls, incl. an IDP camp · Report →3,444
- 2021South West Ethiopia referendumObserved alongside the September polls143
- 2023South Ethiopia referendum and Wolaita rerunSix zones and five special woredas · Report →755
- 2024Outstanding and re-electionsBenishangul-Gumuz, Afar, Somali and Central Ethiopia · Report →90
- 20267th General ElectionElection-day observers in all regions except Tigray · Report →3,477
EU via ECES · France · Ireland · 2025–2026Objective 2.1 · 2.2
Citizen observation of the 7th General Election
Our largest mission to date, using proportional deployment across the full cycle: long-term observers covered voter registration and the campaign, election-day observers reported in real time by SMS, and findings were published from registration to the final report.
Election day · 1 June 2026Objective 2.1 · 2.2
Real-time reporting and public statements
From 5:30 am observers sent coded SMS reports to CECOE’s data centre. A midday statement presented by the Board Chair found observers could work without restriction in 99% of polling stations, while flagging ballot boxes sealed without being shown empty, unstamped ballots and polling stations set up inside health facilities.
EU via ECES · 2025–2026Objective 2.1
Observer training cascade and data centre
A four-tier cascade from regional focal persons to zonal coordinators and trainers prepared observers in Amharic, Afaan Oromo and Somali, managed on CECOE’s Digital Election Observation Workspace. A nine-day situation room received and verified every report.
Embassy of France via CFEE · 2025–2026Objective 2.1 · 2.3
Observation, stakeholder and media engagement
Long-term and mobile observers in Amhara, awareness workshops for regulators, CSOs and political parties, an Election Reporting Manual and media training with a CECOE Media Desk, and findings dissemination workshops in Adama, Hawassa and Addis Ababa.
Irish Aid · 2025–2026Objective 2.1 · 2.2
Credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the 7th General Election
Supported observer deployment, press statements and the situation room through election day, then a two-day lessons-learned workshop in Bishoftu in August 2026 to document the mission for the next electoral cycle.
2021 and 2026Objective 2.3
Media Monitoring Unit
A specialist team tracks airtime, balance, hate speech and misinformation in election coverage. In 2021 it followed seven outlets in six languages and the social media of political parties and CSOs; it monitored the media again for the 7th General Election, measuring party airtime in news and debates and the share of women’s voices month by month from February 2026.
NDI · France · Ireland · Denmark · ECES · 2021Objective 2.1
Comprehensive citizen observation of the 6th General Election
CECOE’s first nationwide mission covered voter registration, both polling days and the post-election period, piloted observation in an IDP camp in Somali Region, and observed the South West Ethiopia referendum on the same day.
Irish Aid · NDI · 2024Objective 2.2
Outstanding and re-elections, June 2024
Observers in Benishangul-Gumuz, Afar, Somali and Central Ethiopia documented irregularities, which CECOE reported to NEBE for action.
NEBE invitation · 2019–2023Objective 2.1
Referendum observation
CECOE has observed statehood referendums since its founding: Sidama in November 2019, South West Ethiopia in September 2021 and South Ethiopia in February 2023, followed by the Wolaita rerun in June 2023, deploying stationary and mobile observers across six zones and five special woredas.