As Rwandans prepare to head to the polls, here’s what you need to know about the upcoming elections:
1. Election Day Schedule
Rwandans in the country will cast their votes on Monday, July 15, to elect the President and Members of Parliament. For those in the diaspora, voting took place a day earlier on Sunday. The polling stations will open at 7 AM and close at 3 PM.
2. Voter Demographics
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) reports that over nine million Rwandans have registered to vote. Notably, two million of these registered voters are participating in their first election. This election will determine the President and Members of Parliament for the next five-year term.
3. Candidates
Three candidates are in the race for the presidency: the 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, there are 589 candidates, including representatives from political parties, special groups (youth, women, and people with disabilities), and one independent candidate. These candidates are competing for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
4. Preparations
The NEC has established more than 2,600 polling stations for the 2024 elections, with at least 160 stations located abroad. Over 100,000 Rwandans have volunteered to serve as polling staff. Additionally, the elections have attracted over 1,100 accredited observers, including 776 local and 334 international observers. These foreign observers represent various regional and international 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 the polls close at 3 PM. The results from each polling station will be consolidated at the district level and then transferred to the national tallying center. According to NEC Chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa, partial results of the presidential election will be announced on Monday night, covering 60-70% of the votes. Partial results for the parliamentary elections will be announced on Tuesday after voting for representatives of special groups is completed. The vote tallying process will continue until July 20, with provisional results for both presidential and parliamentary elections announced on that day. The final results will be declared on July 27.
Stay informed and follow the updates as Rwanda embarks on this significant electoral journey.
