Over 40 percent of registered voters for Rwanda’s July presidential and parliamentary elections are youth, according to the final voter list released by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on June 30.
Out of more than 9 million Rwandans registered to vote, 3.7 million (42 percent) are youth, while women constitute 53 percent of the total voters. The NEC has introduced the Rwanda Election Management Information System, which allows voters to verify registration details, update identification, or transfer polling stations via their phones or laptops.
In Kigali, 1.1 million are registered voters, with youth making up 40 percent and women 48 percent. Southern Province has 2.055 million voters, with youth at 43 percent and women at 55 percent. Western Province has 2.038 million voters, with youth at 45 percent and women at 55 percent. In Northern Province, youth make up 44 percent of 1.4 million voters, and women 54 percent. Eastern Province has 2.2 million voters, with youth at 37 percent and women at 54 percent.
Among the 77,138 registered voters in the diaspora, youth constitute 22 percent and women 47 percent. The NEC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET), is ensuring the timely delivery of voting materials to polling stations abroad.
NEC Executive Secretary Charles Munyaneza confirmed that no further changes to the voter list are allowed. The campaign period runs from June 22 to July 13, with Rwandans voting on July 15 and the diaspora community voting on July 14.
The voter list had 6.8 million voters in the 2017 presidential elections and 8.1 million in the 2018 parliamentary elections.