Millions of Ethiopians cast vote in 7th general election

Election officials count ballots at a polling station in Addis Ababa on Tuesday. AMANUEL SILESHI/AP

ADDIS ABABA — Polling stations opened across Ethiopia on Monday as millions of voters were set to cast their ballots in the country's seventh general election.

According to the National Election Board of Ethiopia, more than 54 million people, out of the country's estimated 130 million population, are registered to vote, with youth and women forming a significant number of the electorate.

After about 52,000 polling stations opened at 6 am, voters waited in long lines from early morning in the capital, Addis Ababa.

In line with the constitution, voters would primarily elect their representatives for the House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower chamber of the Parliament, as well as members of various regional state councils.