Five Key Points as Rwandans Head to the Polls

Elias Hakizimana Jul 15, 2024 0 Comments

By The Inspirer.

Rwandans in the country are casting their votes for the President and Members of Parliament. Meanwhile, Rwandans in the diaspora voted on Sunday. The voting period runs from 7 AM to 3 PM.

Massive Volunteer Turnout

Over 100,000 Rwandans have stepped up to volunteer as polling staff, which demonstrates a high level of civic engagement.

2. Voter Statistics

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) reports that over nine million Rwandans have registered to vote in these critical elections. Remarkably, two million of these voters are participating for the first time.

3. Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates

The presidential race features three candidates: incumbent Paul Kagame of the RPF-Inkotanyi, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana.

For the parliamentary elections, 589 candidates are vying for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. These candidates include representatives from various political parties, special interest groups (youth, women, and people with disabilities), and one independent candidate.

4. Extensive Preparations

NEC has established more than 2,600 polling stations for the 2024 elections, including at least 160 abroad. The election process is monitored by over 1,100 local and international observers from organizations such as the African Union, European Union, East African Community (EAC), Commonwealth, International Organisation of the Francophonie, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

5. Vote Counting and Results

Vote counting will commence immediately after polls close at 3 PM. Initial counts will be done at each polling station, consolidated at the district level, and then transferred to the national tallying center.

NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa has indicated that partial results for the presidential election will be announced on Monday night, covering 60-70% of the votes.

Partial parliamentary results will follow on Tuesday after special group representatives conclude their voting. The final provisional results are expected on July 20, with the official announcement scheduled for July 27.