6 Questions About Rwanda's Election You Were Too Embarrassed To Ask

Rwanda goes to the polls today to elect new parliamentary representatives. Having just watched my own country elect a new parliament, I realised there was a lot I didn't know about how it works here in Rwanda. Here are some of the questions that, like me, you might have been too embarrassed to ask. 

Rwandans go to the polls today (Photo Credit: Kigali Wire)

1. How many Rwandans will vote in this election and what are they voting for?

According to the National Electoral Commission, 5,953,531 people are registered to vote. While voting is not compulsory in Rwanda a high turn-out is expected. A staggering 98.5% of eligible Rwandans voted at the last parliamentary elections in 2008. Rwandans are voting to elect 80 members to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the country's parliament. The elections will be overseen by 1,236 observers and 72,000 polling officers.

2. Why does voting take place over three days?

Rwanda's elections take place from 16-18 September because not all members are elected in the same way. Thanks to rules designed to ensure diversity, there are four different ways for the 80 members in the Chamber of Deputies to be elected:

• 53 members are elected by all Rwandans in a general vote

• 24 are female members and elected by women committee and council members

• Two members are elected by National Youth Councils from across the country

• One member is elected by representatives from the National Council of People with Disabilities 

The general election of 53 members takes place today, September 16 , while the 24 female members will be elected tomorrow, September 17. The election of the youth and disability representatives will be done on September 18.

3. How many candidates are competing in the election?

There are 410 candidates vying for the 80 seats available in the Chamber of Deputies. 

4. What does the Chamber of Deputies do? 

The Chamber of Deputies has three main functions. They are:

1. To represent Rwandans
2. To pass legislation 
3. To scrutinize executive action

The chamber carries out these responsibilities through plenary sessions, committee meetings and by calling government representatives (including the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers) to give briefings on matters of concern. The chamber also analyses reports submitted by government institutions. The first thirty minutes of each parliamentary sitting day is set aside to hear complaints from Rwandans.

5. How many political parties are there in Rwanda and do they all have candidates running for parliament?

There are 11 political parties in Rwanda. They are:

1. Centrist Democratic Party (PDC)
2. Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR) 
3. Democratic Union of the People of Rwanda (UDPR) 
4. Ideal Democratic Party (PDI) 
5. Liberal Party (PL) 
6. Party for Progress and Concord (PPC)
7. Party for Solidarity and Progress (PSP) 
8. PS-Imberakuli 
9. Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) 
10. Rwanda Socialist Party (PSR) 
11. Social Democratic Party (PSD) 

The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda was registered in August 2013 but did not field candidates for the election. The previous parliament was controlled by a coalition led by the Rwanda Patriotic Front. For these elections that coalition is made up of the RPF, PDI, PPC, PSR and the PDC.

6. Who organises Rwanda's elections? 

The National Electoral Commission is responsible for organising the elections, including announcing candidates, voter registration, staffing polling stations and announcing election results, which by law they must do no later than September 25. This fact sheet from the commission has a lot of great information if you're like me and interested in learning more.