Polling stations are set up at hospitals nationwide, from district-level facilities to major medical centers, so as to ease the voting process for patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers, during the July 15-16 elections. Polling stations will open at 7AM on Monday, July 15, in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Voting will be closed at 3PM, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). According to Moise Bukasa, the NEC Communication Officer, having polling stations at hospitals nationwide will ensure that patients and their caregivers have the same opportunity to vote as anyone else who can reach polling stations. ANNOUNCEMENT/ITANGAZO pic.twitter.com/8UONpKwqJT — King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (@kfaisalhospital) July 13, 2024 ALSO READ: 100,000 volunteers deployed to polling stations across the country “By offering polling stations at hospitals, we are removing barriers that previously made it difficult for these individuals to exercise their democratic right. This effort aims to promote equality and inclusivity in the voting process, ensuring that every voice can be heard in our democracy,” he said. According to NEC, besides patients and health care workers, there are other exceptions or people who are allowed to vote from a polling station that is near to them, not necessarily where they were registered to vote from. The people who can vote from the nearest polling station include soldiers on mission, journalists, and students sitting for national examinations. Abarwayi, Abarwaza n'Abakozi ba #CHUK bazaba bari mu kazi ku munsi w'Amatora bazatorera kuri Site iri ku bitaro. pic.twitter.com/caZqHJ21mM — University Teaching Hospital of Kigali/CHUK (@HospitalChuk) July 12, 2024 ALSO READ: Prohibited activities in polling rooms Members of the security forces who are on mission, journalists covering elections can cast their ballot at the nearest polling station. This also applies to the polling staff and emergency workers, Rwandan election observers, as well as representatives of political organisations and independent candidates. They cast their ballot at the polling station they are working from. On July 14, Rwandans in diaspora will cast their ballot. On July 15, Rwandans in the country will vote for the president and members of parliament. On July 16, voting will be carried for representatives of special interest groups in the Chamber of Deputies, namely, women, youth and people with disabilities. There are three candidates vying for the Presidency: Paul Kagame of RPF-Inkotanyi and its allies parties, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party, and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. There are 589 candidates vying for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
