The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has completed the preliminary phase to update the voters’ register, putting the estimated number of voters to participate in next year’s local government elections to at least 6.3 million. 

The local government elections will cost an estimated Rwf6 billion, officials said.

The elections are scheduled for between February and March with up to 274,239 slots up for grabs.

An estimated 5.9 million voters participated in the 2013 parliamentary elections, compared to about 5.3 million voters that took part in the 2010 presidential poll.

But the exact figure of eligible voters for the 2016 local elections is expected to be ascertained following the final display and further review of the newly-revised voters list later in the year.

NEC officials say the commission has found an important partner in the National Identification Agency which has allowed for direct importation of youth that attain the legal voting age (18 years) on to the voters’ list, followed by a verification exercise.

According to NEC, between 150,000 and 250,000 people are added on the voter’s register every year, with youth constituting the largest number.

Figures indicate that voter turnout during past elections fluctuated between 95 per cent and 98 per cent.

The upcoming elections concern all the elective positions from the City of Kigali mayor to the village level executive committee members.

Countywide, 74,070 members of village (umudugudu) executive committees, 30,536 members of cell (akagari) Councils, 8,654 sector (umurenge) councillors, as well as 852 district (akarere) and City of Kigali councillors will be elected.

Also to be elected are 122,139 members of women councils, 20,942 members of youth councils and 16,953 members of the councils for persons with disabilities.

Others to be elected are 30 district mayors and 60 district vice mayors – two per district.

According to the Constitution, about 10 mayors will not seek re-election since they have served two uninterrupted five-year terms in office, while one-third of the vice mayors will also not stand in the forthcoming elections after serving out their two terms.

"The initial exercise to review the voters’ register at the village level has been completed, but there will be another round to update it between November and December,” NEC executive secretary Charles Munyaneza told The New Times.

Up to 75,000 election volunteers are being trained on the electoral exercise ahead of the polls, Munyaneza said.

In some cases, the elections will be conducted through universal suffrage, while in other instances candidates will be voted for by electoral colleges.

The Commission is working on a detailed election blueprint that will specify the electoral colleges, voting methods and exact dates for the local elections with this exercise due to be completed by the end of July, Munyaneza explained.

He said procurement and distribution of election kits will be conducted between July and September.

Voters’ register goes digital

Meanwhile, the voters’ register, which was manually implemented previously, has been digitalised. And, NEC officials expect the introduction of online voter registration to simplify and speed up the registration process, as well as the routine updating of electoral data.

"Eligible citizens can register to vote by filling in their particulars on an online registration form,” said Munyaneza.

He said particulars include the polling station, which could change from time to time as people move from one place to another.

Most importantly, the online platform allows members of the Rwandan Diaspora to fill in or update their particulars on the register, Munyaneza said.

He said both the online and physical display of the voters’ register were expected to encourage people to report cases of deaths, relocation of voters and other aspects that would help the ongoing review exercise.

Voter and civic education

Meanwhile, the Commission continues to conduct civic and voter education programmes, especially at the grassroots, to help citizens comprehend the importance of participating in elections and of making well-informed decisions on the polling day.

Eight individuals are stationed at the district, sector and cell level each, and four at the village level to constantly engage citizens on the electoral process and to collect feedback from the public.

The youth, women and persons with disabilities are given particular attention as special interest groups, according to NEC officials.

Jenevivah Uwamahoro, the in charge of good governance in Kicukiro District, says they have put emphasis on educating the public on the benefits and consequences of not taking part or shunning the election exercise.

"We are helping voters to understand that while leaders are responsible for voters, voters should also be held accountable for the people they put into leadership positions,” she said.

Jane Mukandayambaje, a local leader in Akagera village in Kanombe Sector, said: "We believe these constant engagements and discussions about elections encourage citizens to take ownership of our democratic dispensation and the culture of conducting peaceful elections.”

Munyaneza said collaboration with other institutions has boosted civic education. "We have signed memoranda with various institutions, including the Civil Society Platform, the National Itorero Commission and several youth organisations to help in training and deliver voter and civic education as we monitor and evaluate the process.”

He said such partnerships have contributed toward building a strong voting culture in the country.

Meanwhile, this month NEC will preside over the elections of members of mediation committees (Abunzi) nationwide, with the first round of voting – at the village level – due this Saturday, while elections at the cell and sector levels are due on July 25 and July 31, respectively.

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Major highlights on upcoming exercise