KIGALI - Many voters trekked long distances to various polling stations across the country early Monday, in a peaceful presidential elections, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has said.

According to NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza, they expect a voter turnout of up to 98 percent.

Speaking to The New Times right after the closure of polling stations at 3 p.m, Munyaneza, said that the vast majority of voters had cast their ballots by 11a.m. 

"At the moment, we have not consolidated all the figures of those who voted, but we expect to have a turnout of over 98 percent,” said Munyaneza. 

He added that in some districts such as Karongi, some voters spent the night at their respective polling stations waiting for the voting to begin and that some polling stations had closed as early as 8 AM.

"Generally, the exercise was conducted peacefully across the nation apart from some minor cases where some people did not feature on the voters’ register because they had either gone to the wrong polling stations or they shifted from the residences  where they registered and did not  communicate,” said Munyaneza.

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