Ethiopian authorities prohibit candidate symbols in polling stations

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said Saturday that voters are not allowed to display poster or logo of any political party or show symbols with physical actions.

NEBE said in a statement that voters are also not allowed to wear T-shirts, hats or clothes that display symbols of contending political parties.

The board has also announced that voters should switch their mobile phones off while they are in polling stations in a bid to make the polling process smooth. Moreover, local and foreign observers, election executives are also obliged to switch-off their mobile phones in polling stations.

Around 26.5 million people are expected to cast their ballots on Sunday in the country's more than 38,000 polling stations.

Thirty-six political parties will contest places in the House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower house of parliament.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi-led Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is widely expected to win a third five-year term, but observers say the ruling party's parliamentary majority may dwindle under challenges from opposition candidates. The EPRDF currently holds 481 of the 547 seats in parliament.

Voters will also elect representatives in nine regional state parliaments that appoint members of the 112-seat Council of the Federation, the upper house. Ethiopia holds national polls every five years.

Source: Xinhua