Ethiopia held its seventh general election on Monday, with over 54 million registered voters participating out of a population of approximately 130 million. Polling stations opened at 6 am across the nation, with long lines observed in the capital, Addis Ababa, as citizens, including a significant number of youth and women, cast their ballots. Voters primarily elected representatives for the House of Peoples' Representatives and regional state councils. The election day saw all non-essential workplaces closed to ensure a smooth voting process, which is scheduled to last for one day. A total of 42 political parties and 80 independent candidates vied for seats, with the ruling Prosperity Party widely anticipated to secure a majority, following its dominant performance in the 2021 elections. International observers from the African Union and IGAD were present to monitor the proceedings.