BALLOTS LOOM YOUTH LOOK AWAY

Feb 21 , 2026.

The approaching national election is unfolding in a subdued atmosphere, especially among younger voters for whom politics barely intrudes. What once animated streets and campuses now passes as background noise, even as the official timetable promises new national momentum. For many, voting has become a convenience, fitted around work if it does not demand too much sacrifice. Others will cast ballots as a duty stripped of hope, in a climate where political communication feels technical, remote and pitched to experts rather than ordinary voters.

Survey data gathered by this newspaper from 142 respondents aged 18 to 30 captures that cooling mood. Some say they will support whichever party addresses jobs, inflation and the cost of living and rejects "ethnic politics," yet concede they feel little choice. Others have opted out altogether, arguing that the electoral ecosystem is too narrow for parties beyond the governing one and that agendas and policies are thin. They complain that personalities overshadow substance, research is scarce and inclusiveness limited, leading them to view campaigns as emotional propaganda rather than an effort to change the country. Their scepticism is rooted partly in a highly contested election two decades ago that ended in violence and mass arrests, reinforcing the sense that power shifts more readily through force than through ballots.

Election authorities insist preparations are moving ahead. Polling stations are being categorised into green, yellow, and red zones based on security risk. Officials see most areas in Oromia Regional State fall into the green category, while Amhara Regional State contains stations in all three, and reported that Tigray Regional State has yet to provide updates on safety and displacements. According to electoral officials, security investigations will continue until the end, and they caution that conditions can change even in areas considered safe. The total number of polling stations has not yet been announced, but in the previous elections, 38.2 million voters were registered, 34 million ballots were cast, and 49,407 polling stations were used. Close to 169 civil society organisations have registered to observe, and foreign observers are being invited by the Foreign Ministry.

The depth and meaning of youth disengagement remain contested. Some civil society figures argue that it should not be read as a settled rejection of elections, noting that many young people are first-time voters and pointing to representation gaps, including a mismatch between candidate ages and the youth. Opposition party insiders offer a bleaker assessment, warning that a democratic election is not expected and that “youth disillusionment” is rooted in disputed contests, the cost of living and blurred lines between party and state, which critics say should be clearly separated. In Tigray Regional State, some fear that renewed conflict could again prevent elections and leave voters without parliamentary representation, while weak infrastructure and war damage constrain outreach to younger citizens. However, analysts link youth disinterest to broader disabling factors, the lack of sustained peace and credible security guarantees, and describe the “deafening” silence from candidates as a manifestation of a process lacking urgency and visible contestation.

PUBLISHED ON Feb 21,2026 [ VOL 26 , NO 1347]