Voting through queues cost effective - NEC

KIGALI - The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has revealed that the current system of voting, where the voters queue behind their preferred candidates is not only democratic, but cost effective. The NEC Chairman, Prof Chrisologue Karangwa, made the remarks in reaction to claims that the system was primitive and undermining to democracy. “This system is quite effective and highly democratic, it tests voters’ diligence and their levels of honesty to themselves and the general public, it is also time saving and less costly,” Karangwa said. During a news conference held after the first round of local government elections, journalists questioned the system’s credibility after some voters claimed that it was had for them to queue behind a particular candidate whose rivals may, as well, be their friends. Karangwa asserted that such people were among the few who do not know their rights and the importance of the elections to their lives and national progress in general. He urged the media to continue sensitizing the public. “They need to be sincere by bravely shaming poor performers,” he insisted. The NEC Chairman further commended the level of democratic maturity demonstrated in this year’s elections whereby a large number of people with higher education levels had contested for local leadership positions at the village and cell level. Ends