Candidates

Candidates

Requirements for standing as a candidate in the election of members of the Village Executive Committee 

For a person to stand as a candidate in the election of the member of the Village Executive Committee, he or she must: 

1° be a Rwandan by nationality;

2° be at least twenty-one (21) years old; 

3° at least have complemented six (6) years of primary school; 

4° not be restricted by any provision of this organic law. 

Winning election 

In decentralised entities elections at Village, Cell and Sector levels, the candidate who obtains the majority of votes is declared the winner of the post. 

In the event of a tie vote, elections are repeated only once (1). In case of no change, there is drawing of lots among the concerned candidates in accordance with the instructions of the Commission. 

In case there is one candidate, the provisions of Article 56 of this Organic Law apply. 

Resolution of electoral process related complaints 

In the elections of decentralised entities leaders at village, cell and sector levels, any electoral process related complaints are immediately lodged with the election supervisor at the concerned level and he or she settles them publicly in front of the population and he or she records this in the statement. 

Where the complaint is not lodged with the election supervisor immediately after the end of elections at the concerned level, it becomes inadmissible. 

Functions incompatible with those of a member of a Council at District or the City of Kigali levels 

The function of a member of a Council are incompatible with being: 

1° member of the Cabinet; 

2° member of Parliament; 

3° judge, investigator or a prosecutor; 

4° governor of the Province; 

5° police officer; 

6° soldier; 

7° member of National Intelligence and Security Service; 

8° member of Rwanda Correctional Service; 

9° public servant outside the country; 

10° one of the polling officers in elections of members of the Council; 

11° an agent in an administrative decentralized entity where he or she is a Council member; 

12° the Auditor General of State Finances or his or her Deputy; 

13° the Ombudsman or his or her Deputy. 

However, if a person exercising one of such functions requests and receives approval from his or her immediate superior in writing, he or she temporarily suspends his or her duties before he or she forwards his or her candidacy. He or she is allowed to conduct an electoral campaign and if he or she is elected, he or she resigns from such a function which is incompatible with the one for which he or she is elected. If he or she is not elected, he or she returns to his or her duties without any hindrance. 

Requirements for standing as a candidate in the election of members of the Council at District or City of Kigali levels 

A person who wishes to stand as a candidate in the election of members of the Council at District or City of Kigali levels must: 

1° be a Rwandan by nationality;

2° be at least twenty-one (21) years old; 

3° not be restricted by any provision of this Organic Law. 

Submission of candidacy 

The submission of candidacy for the position campaigned for is done in writing to the officer of the Commission at District or City of Kigali level and an acknowledgement of receipt is issued. 

The application for candidacy includes the following: 

1° candidate’s names; 

2° date and place of birth; 

3° candidate’s profession and residence; 

4° the post he or she is competing for. 

Beginning and end of the period for submission of candidacy and modalities of approval 

The beginning, the end of submission of candidacy and modalities for their approval at District and City of Kigali levels are determined by instructions of the Commission. 

Candidacy supporting documents 

The application for candidacy is accompanied by the following documents: 

1° a copy of the identity card or a copy of another document issued by competent authorities certifying he or she is Rwandan; 

2° a certified copy of the diploma or certificate; 

3° two (2) passport-sized photos; 

4° a copy of criminal record issued by the competent national authority within the previous six (6) months. 

Prohibitions to candidates during electoral campaign 

During electoral campaigns, it is prohibited to do the following acts: 

1° to post photos, documents and conduct electoral campaign in an unauthorised venue; 

2° to use the national symbols and political organizations’ emblems on photos and write-ups to campaign for candidates. 

Decision taken against a candidate 

Without prejudice to provisions of other laws, any person campaigning in procedures that contradict provisions of Article 121 of this Organic Law is warned and if he or she persists, he or she is removed from the candidates’ list. 

Submission of candidacy for a position in the Executive Committee of the Province and the City of Kigali 

Submission of candidacy for a position in the Executive Committee of the District and of the City of Kigali is done on the day of elections before the electoral college.