Presidential candidates warned against forging endorsement signatures

Normally, Independent candidates began collecting signatures from April 18 and have until May 30 to submit it to the National Electoral Commission [NEC].

Presidential candidates are required to have 600 signatures from registered voters across the country, which equates to 12 people in each District.

The National electoral commission will begin receiving candidacies for presidency and members of parliament from May 17 to 30.

The Electoral Commission was unable to reveal the names of the presidential candidates who are collecting signatures, however, Philippe Mpayimana, who participated in the 2017 presidential election, has expressed his interest in running for seat again.

The provisional list of approved candidates for presidential and parliamentary seats will be announced on June 6.

The final list of the approved candidates will be announced on June 14. The final list of successful candidates will be announced on June 14.

Mrs. Oda Gasinzigwa, chairperson of the National Electoral Commission, said there are independent candidates for both president and parliament seats.

“We will start receiving applications from presidential candidates from May 17. Independent candidates must prepare earlier by collecting 600 signatures. This activity started on April 18. Those who sign these independent candidates must be registered on the electoral list. Candidates can seek signatures themselves or ask other people who represent them to seek signatures,” she explained.

 “The number of independent candidates identified and their names will be announced soon. It is necessary to check whether the signatures are not falsified. They must be honest if they want to become leaders. If they counterfeit, they will be punished by law,” she stressed.

The campaign period for political parties and independent candidates will begin on June 22 and end on July 13.

She said 2,441 polling stations and 17,400 polling rooms have been established across the country and 9.5 million people are expected to vote.

The provisional electoral list will be announced no later than June 14, while the final list will be announced on June 29. Rwandans will go to the polls on July 14 and 16.

For Rwandans abroad, voting for the president and 53 members of parliament will take place on July 14.

For Rwandans abroad, the vote for the president and the 53 members of parliament will take place on July 14. For Rwandans across the country, voting will take place on July 15.

On July 16, 24 female members of parliament will be elected by special bodies, depending on the administrative structure.

Voting for two members of parliament elected by the National Youth Council and one deputy elected by the National Council of Persons with Disabilities will also take place on July 16.