Young, eager and excited first-time voters turned up in huge numbers at various polling stations across the country to make their voices heard in the 2024 general elections in Rwanda. According to the National Electoral Commission, nine million people registered to vote in this year's election. Two million of these are voting for the very first time. According to most of the first-time voters, participating in this civic exercise is a chance to choose the future they want. ALSO READ: Kagame, First Lady join Rwandans to cast votes in elections As a first-time voter, it is incredible that I get to choose my own president and know that my future is safe and secure, one of the first-time voters, Ariella Ampoze Rurebwayire, told the New Times. This is really incredible that I get to choose my own president. Ariella Ampoze Rurebwayire, who just turned 18, expresses her excitement as a first-time voter. #RwandaDecides : @FrankNtarindwa1 /TNT pic.twitter.com/gzmzVb28Ag — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) July 15, 2024 Ange Umuhoza Mutangana was voting for the first time. She was also a volunteer at GK Kimironko 1 polling station in Kigali. ALSO READ: Youth in Western Province excited after voting for first time “I am a first-time voter as well as a youth volunteer, helping people find the right voting rooms as per their registration details, she said. Also read: Four days on a train for country's pride, Rwandan students in India thrilled ahead of poll I feel really proud because I have a choice in my country's future. WATCH first-time voter Echo Mutako Nsenga, 18, share her experience after casting her vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Kigali on Monday. #RwandaDecides : @DavisHigiro /TNT pic.twitter.com/ej2yyUxaz9 — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) July 15, 2024 At the EP Kacyiru polling station, Emmanuel Mpahwenimana, the returning officer, noted that people turned out much earlier than expected and in even larger numbers than they thought, but the process went well. “The only problem we faced was allowing people who were not on the list to vote before NEC gave us the green light. Otherwise, the process went well. I hope we'll be able to finish on time since everyone arrived early,” Mpahwenimana added. ALSO READ: As long elections are free, fair, I will accept results’, says Habineza Keza Orline, a first-time voter, described her delight after voting, despite feeling scared just before voting. “I am delighted that I am now at the age where I can vote, and I am extremely happy that I was able to vote for my candidates. I am now participating in our democracy and change,” Keza said. Emile Karekezi, a voter with speech disability, was surprised to see that in the polling room there was someone ready to explain the voting process to him, in sign language. It was easier because I didn't have to go in with someone to help me understand; instead, I found someone who could speak in sign to explain to me the whole process, which was helpful for me, Karekezi declared. Election observers from the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) were in various polling stations countrywide, as voting kicked off on July 15. A unique poll Also read: EAC deploys 55 observers for Rwanda election MP Dr. Siranda Gerald Blacks, an EAC election observer, said he had detected unique aspects of Rwanda’s electoral process. I have seen the electoral officials taking an oath to oblige with the electoral regulations. I have also seen that voting stations have been set up in hospitals to cater for sick voters as well as the medical personnel on duty. This is quite unique, he said. Dr. Siranda said that countries in the region could learn a few things from Rwanda's electoral system. I observed that the voting rooms were adorned with the Rwandan flag colors as opposed to party colors, meaning that the partisan aspect was shed off on the day of voting and there was oneness. These are things that countries in the region can learn from,” he said. Siranda added that Rwanda’s history had informed its unique political and electoral system. Initial updates on partial results were set to be announced late Monday evening, with preliminary results set to come out not later than July 20 and the final results not later than July 27, according to NEC.
