No campaign T-shirts, caps allowed at polling stations - NEC

Voters will not be allowed to cast their ballot if dressed in attire that promotes specific candidates or party. According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the campaign period ended on August 3, 2017 at 6 a.m. Beyond that, all campaign related events and materials are prohibited.

Thursday, August 03, 2017

Voters will not be allowed to cast their ballot if dressed in attire that promotes specific candidates or party.

According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the campaign period ended on August 3, 2017 at 6 a.m. Beyond that, all campaign related events and materials are prohibited.

"It’s unacceptable to continue with any form of campaign whether by wearing promotional clothes, keeping car stickers on, carrying flags and wearing scarves, caps or T-shirts. All of these tools are forbidden,” Moise Bukasa, the Public Relations and communication officer at NEC said.

The law governing elections in Rwanda prohibits wearing clothes with candidate’s pictures and symbols as well as other forms of campaigning after the campaign window closes.  

However, this directive is only effective up to when the polls close across the country.

"People will be allowed to put on their candidates’ promotional clothes immediately after polls end – at 3 p.m.,” Bukasa added.

"On election day, those wearing the promotional material will be asked to return home and change before being allowed to vote.”

Police spokesperson Theos Badege said that officers on the streets have been asking drivers to pull campaign-related stickers off their vehicles.