In democratic systems people participate in decision making directly by themselves or throughrntheir elected representatives. When they participate through their elected representatives, thernway they elect their representatives matter. Representatives should be elected freely and fairly.rnIn this regard the electoral administration plays a pivotal role in ensuring electoral integrity.rnThe electoral administration is primarily guided by the constitutional and legal framework andrnthe institutional arrangements of electoral management bodies.rnIn Ethiopia the practice of democracy and multiparty elections is a recent experience. It hasrnbeen started in 1991. Since then four general elections have been carried out in 1995, 2000,rn2005, and 2010. The results of these general elections indicate that the ruling party hasrndominated overwhelming majority in both federal and regional parliaments. The elections havernbeen usually tied with accusations and controversies, and sometimes to conflicts (as in the 2005rngeneral election). The opposition political parties and some civil societies raise questions on thernindependence of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and its administration ofrnelections. Therefore, this research study analyzes the challenges of multiparty democracy inrnEthiopia with special emphasis on the electoral administration. It assesses the legal andrninstitutional framework of the Ethiopian electoral system and how the NEBE managed previousrnelections.rnIn general the research study has concluded that there are some loopholes in the legalrnframework that should be addressed with some changes in the constitutional and legalrnprovisions. In electoral administration the NEBE had some drawbacks in managing somernactivities of the electoral process especially in post electoral activities. With this regard thernBoard has to improve its administration and maintain its independence.rnKey words: Multiparty democracy, electoral administration, electoral management bodies