The Rwanda Civil Society Platform (RCSP) deployed 290 election observers countrywide for the July 14-16 presidential and parliamentary elections. It initiated its monitoring activities by observing pre-election processes and all stages of the electoral process at various polling sites across Rwanda on election days. Below are some of the initial findings from the observations outlined by the civil society’s preliminary statement. ALSO READ: Kagame secures 99.18%, ruling party coalition grabs 68.83% parliamentary majority Significant role played by Rwandan media According to the RCSP statement released on July 18, the civil society’s observation mission noted the “significant role played by Rwandan media in promoting a transparent and inclusive electoral process.” Both public and private media outlets and some online content creators provided extensive coverage of the electoral campaigns, offering balanced airtime to all presidential candidates and political parties, it says. “This equitable coverage ensured that voters had access to diverse political perspectives and campaign messages,” it stated. Rwanda Civil Society Platform adds that the media outlets also played a crucial role in voter education. “Through various programs, including radio shows, television broadcasts, and newspaper articles, the media helped to inform citizens about the voting process, their rights as voters, and the importance of participating in the democratic process. These efforts contributed significantly to increasing voter awareness and preparedness for the elections.” Campaign period ‘generally peaceful’ The statement says the campaign period was generally peaceful. However, observers recorded a few isolated incidents such as a supporter who died due to overcrowding. In Ngoma District, one party encountered scheduling conflicts where two campaigns were inadvertently planned for the same area, contrary to electoral regulations. Adequate equipment The observers found that the necessary and adequate equipment were available on time at all visited polling stations, demonstrating the National Electoral Commission's thorough preparation for the electoral process. “Regarding the voter lists, our observers noted that they were up-to-date and accurately reflected the registered voters in each polling station's jurisdiction. In cases where voters couldn't find their names on the list, the NEC had implemented effective contingency measures.” It added that regarding polling site infrastructure, the observers noted that adequate provisions were made across the visited stations. Transparency As noted, the opening and closing procedures at the polling stations were observed to be in strict compliance with the electoral law, reflecting a commitment to transparency and rule of law. “Before the commencement of voting, citizens were shown that the ballot boxes were empty, a crucial step in building trust in the process and dispelling any concerns about pre-stuffed ballots.” Safe environment The elections were conducted in a safe environment at each polling station observed, civil society added. “No incidents of jostling or voter intimidation were reported by our observers. Candidate representation in voting rooms was generally observed.” Polling stations in hospitals Special polling stations were established in hospitals to facilitate voting for patients, caregivers, medical staff, and other essential service providers, the statement noted. ALSO READ: Polling stations set up at hospitals to aid patients, healthcare workers Polling stations were 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 elections. According to Moise Bukasa, the National Electoral Commission (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. Voting for special interest groups Although people with disabilities were facilitated in different ways including scaling up Braille ballot papers, civil society observers found that “The organization of voting for special groups, particularly persons with disabilities, revealed room for improvement.” ALSO READ: Persons with visual impairment welcome use of braille ballot paper “Our observers noted that some polling stations lacked adequate facilities to accommodate voters with mobility impairments, and there were instances where assistance protocols for visually impaired voters were not consistently applied,” said the statement. Some irregularities Observer access issues were noted in isolated cases, such as in Musanze at the Gahunga Polling station. Here, it is noted, observers were initially denied access due to misunderstandings about required documentation. “Election officials at this location claimed that the NEC badge was insufficient and demanded an additional accreditation letter signed by NEC, apparently unaware of the new approach implemented by the Commission,” adds the statement.
