At Stake in this Election: 

• 53 seats in the Rwandan Chamber of Deputies

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) 

• Head of Government: Édouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017) 

• Assembly: bicameral Parliament with a 26-seat Senate (Sénat) and an 80-seat Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)

Electoral System: 

• The President is directly elected by plurality vote and may serve up to two 5-year terms. 

• The Prime Minister is appointed by the president. 

• In the Senate, 12 members are indirectly elected by local councils, 8 are appointed by the president, 4 are appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, and 2 are selected by institutions of higher learning. All 26 members serve 8-year terms.  

• In the Chamber of Deputies, 53 members are directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women are selected by special interest groups, and 3 members are selected by youth and disability groups. All 80 members serve 5-year terms.

Last Election:  

In the 2018 election for the Chamber of Deputies, The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) won 40 seats, the Social Democratic Party won 5 seats, the Party Imberakuri won 2 seats, and The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda won 2 seats. Voter turnout was 93%.

Information for Voters: 

Igikorwa cyo kwiyamamaza: Ibyo wamenya ku mategeko n'amabwiriza abigenga / What you need to know about the rules and regulations (in Kinyarwanda)

New in this Election: 

After the passing of a constitutional amendment in 2023, Rwandan presidential and parliamentary elections will take place at the same time this year for the first time. 

Key Deadlines: 

• Candidate filing deadline: 30 May 2024 

• Voter registration deadline: 13 June 2024

Main Parties in this Election:  

• Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)/ Front Patriotique Rwandais (FPR) 

• Leader: Paul KAGAME 

• Seats won in last election: 40 out of 53 

• Social Democratic Party/ Parti Social Démocrate (PSD) 

• Leader: Vincent BIRUTA 

• Seats won in last election: 5 out of 53 

• The Liberal Party / Parti Liberal (PL) 

• Leader: Donatille MUKABALISA 

• Seats won in last election: 4 out of 53 

• The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR / IRDKI) / Parti vert démocratique du Rwanda (DGPR) 

• Leader: Frank HABINEZA 

• Seats won in last election: 2 out of 53 

• Social Party Imberakuri/ Parti Social Imberakuri (PS IMBERAKUR) 

• Leader: Christine MUKABUNANI 

• Seats won in last election: 2 out of 53 

• Ideal Democratic Party/ Parti Démocratique Idéal (PDI) 

• Leader: Sheikh MUSSA FAZIL HARERIMANA  

• Seats won in last election: 0 out of 53 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 13,776,698 (2022 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 9,012,789 (2024)

Gender Data: 

• Female Population:  7,035,658 (2022 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 1 May 1980, Ratified 2 March 1981 

• Gender Quota:  Yes, at least 30% of members in the Chamber of Deputies must be women and 30% of Senators must also be women.  

• Female Candidates in this election: Yes 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 49 out of 80 (61%) in the House of Deputies and 9 out of 26 (35%) in the Senate  

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.548, Low (2022)  

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 19%, High (2023) 

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 15 December 2008, Ratified 14 January 2009  

• Projected population with a disability: 5% 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in Rwanda: No 

• Election Access: Yes