Rwandans are expected to exercise their right to elect their next president and Members of Parliament (MPs) as their representatives in the legislature in July 2024. Throughout the country, the polling date for the President of the Republic and 53 Deputies (MPs) elected from a final list of candidates proposed by political organizations or independent candidates is July 15, while it is expected that the diaspora will vote on July 14.
Key Information About the Upcoming Elections
Voter’s Register
A voter’s register is defined as a document containing the identification of eligible voters. According to the organic law governing elections, any Rwandan of at least 18 years of age or those who will attain this age on election day, and who are domiciled or reside in the village or countries under the jurisdiction of the respective embassy, are eligible to vote.
To register on the voters’ register, individuals must present their national identity card or any other document issued by a competent authority that attests to their Rwandan nationality. Every eligible Rwandan may use various means to register in accordance with the instructions of the commission in charge of elections, which is currently the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Ineligible Voters
However, some people will not have the right to vote due to their ineligibility to be part of the voters’ register. According to the organic law governing elections, individuals prohibited from registering include those who have been deprived of their right to vote by competent courts and have not been rehabilitated or granted amnesty, those convicted of manslaughter or murder, and those convicted of genocide or crimes against humanity.
Additionally, there are people temporarily disqualified from registering, such as individuals in preventive detention under the Code of Criminal Procedure, those imprisoned to serve a sentence, and those who disrupt the tranquillity of the registration place, with such disruption needing to be recorded in a statement.
Invalid Ballot Papers
According to the law, invalid ballot papers are not considered votes cast and do not count in the calculation of the percentage of votes obtained by a candidate. Article 121 of the NEC regulations outlines the circumstances under which a vote can become invalid:
- The ballot paper does not correspond to the prescribed format.
- The ballot paper bears unauthorized signs.
- The elected candidate is not clearly indicated.
- The voter’s identity is disclosed on the ballot paper.
- The ballot paper is placed in a ballot box without indicating any choice.
- The ballot paper contains unauthorized additions or information.
- The ballot paper is used for a candidate who withdrew or was disqualified.
- The voter affixes a fingerprint or ticks between two candidates.
- The number of candidates voted for exceeds the allowed number.
- The ballot paper is placed in a non-designated ballot box.
Article 122 states that a vote is counted as valid for a candidate if the voter affixes their fingerprint or ticks in the designated box.
Final Voter List
The provisional electoral list estimates that slightly more than nine million Rwandans, including more than 62,000 from the diaspora, will participate in the polls. The final list of voters will be published on June 29, the deadline for registration to vote.
Registering to vote is straightforward and can be done by dialing *169# on your phone and following the prompts or through the website: amatora.nec.gov.rw.
As the elections draw near, it is essential for all eligible Rwandans to ensure they are registered and ready to exercise their democratic right to vote.
