A driving system and method for electroluminescence displays having a matrix of electroluminescence elements arrayed in rows and columns with a control circuit for discharging each anode line to a column equalization bus (CEB), includes connecting the charged anode line to the CEB at the end of activation of each anode line. Discharging and subsequent de-activation of the anode line are allowed by charge-sharing with un-activated anode lines that are to be activated for the next row. This is accomplished by connecting the charged anode line to the CEB. In displaying images, anode lines are activated for a number of time periods according to gray scale or color data. Anode lines are consequently de-activated accordingly at different times during a lighting phase for each row display time. When anode lines are discharged through charge sharing on the CEB, a control circuit maintains the voltage on the CEB below a level that may cause inadvertent activation of the de-activated elements.