Ethiopia’s election is about affirming national commitment to democracy

On June 1, more than 57 million Ethiopians are going to the polls in the country’s seventh national election since the adoption of the 1995 constitution. At a time when democratic systems across the world are under strain, Ethiopia’s vote is more than a routine electoral event — it is a significant test of whether a large, diverse, and rapidly changing state can navigate the difficult process of democratic transition. Ethiopia’s electoral system differs from that of many African countries. …