As campaigns come to a close on Saturday, July 13, there are specific guidelines that presidential and parliamentary candidates must adhere to during the period between the end of campaigning and election day. ALSO READ: Prohibited activities in polling rooms Charles Munyaneza, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Executive Secretary, told The New Times that all candidates must stop all campaign activities on social media and other media platforms by midnight of July 13. ALSO READ: NEC dispatches voting materials to polling centres countrywide “In-person campaign rallies must also conclude by 6 PM on the same day. After this time, any form of campaigning, including wearing campaign-related hats, t-shirts, or displaying posters, must stop. “From July 14 onward, all campaign materials must be removed from public spaces. This includes taking down any posters, banners, or other campaign items displayed on roads or in other locations,” Munyaneza noted. ALSO READ: Over 1,000 observers accredited for Rwanda’s elections He also said that on polling day, candidates should not stay at polling stations after casting their votes. “Instead, they should leave the premises immediately and may return later if they wish to observe the vote counting process,” Munyaneza added. Three candidates are running for the Presidency: Paul Kagame of the RPF-Inkotanyi, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana. Up to 589 candidates are vying for 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Rwandans in the diaspora will vote for the President and Members of Parliament on July 14, while polls in the country will open on July 15. On July 16, representatives of special groups (women, youth and people with disabilities) will be elected by the electoral colleges. Polls will open at 7AM and close at 3PM, and the vote counting will begin after that.
