Readiness for Implementing an E-Voting System in Ethiopia

Abstract

Extant literature revealed that elections conducted in traditional ways mostly result in conflicts. Intending to address such challenges, e-voting technology is being used in some countries to conduct a transparent election. However, the application of this new system encountered different challenges due to a lack of readiness to exploit its value, especially in developing countries contexts. To that end, the readiness of government, citizens, and political parties needs to be assessed before using e-voting as an electoral system. The main purpose of this study is to assess the gaps in the readiness of Ethiopia for e-voting system implementation. A qualitative research method is employed, and a thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The finding revealed that Ethiopia is not ready in terms of information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, human resources, and legality measures for e-voting technology. Finally, recommendations are forwarded for policymakers and practitioners for action.