Eastern Province: Preparations for high-level parliamentary elections are in progress
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) in Eastern Province has unveiled a roadmap for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, engaging partners in the planning and management process. The schedule encompasses vital activities such as voter registration, candidate nominations, and campaign periods.
In February 2023, the NEC evaluated the performance of 17,617 election volunteers for Eastern Province assignments. They identified volunteers who resigned and those needing replacement, receiving 1,193 replacement requests.
According to Frank Kayiranga Rwigamba, the NEC coordinator in Eastern Province, out of 619 polling sites, 615 were inspected to ensure compliance with election administration standards. Objectives included assessing road accessibility, electricity availability, and essential facilities like restrooms, women’s facilities, and disabled-accessible water points.
The roadmap also revealed that 474 election sites had electricity connections, while 145 did not. Only one site lacked road access, and all 619 had restroom facilities, with 587 out of 618 sites having water access for disabled individuals, underlining a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process.
Kayiranga noted that 539 women’s facilities were available, while 76 were missing. He emphasized the importance of such facilities for accommodating breastfeeding mothers, enhancing their electoral participation, and mentioned plans to include additional sites, particularly schools with designated areas for mothers.
Currently, increased efforts are needed in voter registration and civic education to ensure the inclusion of all eligible voters in the electoral process, according to the NEC.
NEC urged partners to engage in civic education, electoral awareness, compliance with election laws, and encouraging citizen participation in electoral activities. Additionally, they stressed effective communication, coordination among officials, and transparency throughout the electoral process.
The electoral commission will conduct voter education programs to inform citizens about their rights and responsibilities during the upcoming elections.
The voter lists for Eastern Province showed significant growth, with over 370,000 new voters aged 18 between the 2017 and 2022 local mediator elections, reflecting a substantial increase in eligible voters. Notably, Nyagatare District saw the highest rise in eligible voter registration, with over 75,000 new voters registered
