Addis Ababa, February 9, 2008 (WIC) - More than one million voters have secured IDs in East Shoa and Gedyo zones as well as Gambella State, the zonal and state election board offices disclosed.

East Shoa Zone Election Board Coordinator Hussein Tifo told WIC that 633,966 voters have been registered in 11 woredas of the zone. Some 99.9 percent of the eligible voters in the zone were registered, he said, adding that this demonstrates the readiness of the public to elect candidates who could bring about development.

He said the Oromo People Democratic Organization OPDO/EPRDF), Oromo People Congress (OPC) and Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) would contest in 11 woredas of the zone. According to Gedyo Zone election board coordinator Kebede Tezazu, over 90 percent of the eligible voters in the zone were also registered.

The extension of the deadline enabled several voters to collect IDs, the head said.

Similarly, more than 121,000 voters were registered in Gambella State, the state election board coordinator Uchan Okelo said.

Some 40 percent of the registered voters in the state were women, he said, adding that 30 percent of the more than 5,030 candidates were also women.This shows the growing participation of women in politics, Uchan further noted.

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