{{Over 1000 Rwandans in India participated in the parliamentary elections held on September 15, 2013. }}
As provided for by the Rwandan constitution, Rwandan citizens abroad who are registered to vote and bear valid voting documents are eligible to participate in elections.
Rwandans in India, mostly students, turned up enthusiastically at the polls which opened at 7:00am and closed at 15:00pm in accordance with the law governing elections in Rwanda.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Rwanda on September 16, 2013, but Rwandans living abroad voted on 15 September.
There were eight polling stations in four states of India and the capital, New Delhi. Rwandan students in the states of Punjab and Haryana converged at the campus of Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar to cast their votes.
Those in Karnataka voted at Jain University in Bangalore, while Rwandan citizens in the state of Maharashtra exercised their constitutional right to vote at Symbiosis International University in Pune.
The state of Tamil Nadu had four polling stations in Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem and Anamalai University.
Rwandans were very excited and grateful to the leadership of Rwanda which accords all Rwandans, irrespective of where they live, the opportunity to fully exercise their constitutional rights.
The election exercise went smoothly and transparently and was well facilitated, thanks to the efficiency of the National Electoral Commission and the support of Indian Authorities, Universities hosting Rwandan students and Rwanda’s Honorary Consuls in different states in India.
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