Voting Behavior in Female; Pakistan ─ Project Report

Submitted to:
 Sir Touqeer Abbas

Submitted by:
Muhammad Zaman, Ahsan Ullah, Javeria Eman, Noureen Rani
Muhammad Adeel

Subject: Civics & Community Engagement

Department of Political Science, UOS

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Overview
Voting is a cornerstone of democracy and ensures representation of all segments of
society. In Pakistan, despite women constituting nearly half of the population, their
participation in elections has historically remained lower than that of men. This
participation gap limits women’s political influence and weakens democratic
inclusiveness.
This project explores the factors behind low female voter turnout in Pakistan and
documents an awareness campaign conducted within the university to educate
students on the importance of women’s political participation. Through class visits,
discussions, and data collection, the project aims to encourage students to play an
active role in supporting women’s right to vote.

Objectives
➔ To understand voting behavior among youth and students.
➔ To identify key factors behind low female participation in elections.
➔ To conduct an awareness campaign promoting women’s voting rights.
➔ To collect basic participation data from different classes.
➔ To recommend practical steps for improving female voter turnout.

Background & Context; 2024 General Elections

Independent analyses reported that about 60.6 million people voted in the 2024 general
election. FAFEN

Female polled votes (absolute number): News reporting and ECP analyses indicate that
women cast approximately 24.4 million votes in 2024 (out of about 58.9 million registered
female voters). This was an increase in absolute female votes compared to 2018, but
female share and turnout patterns varied by province and constituency. FAFEN

Gender turnout dynamics and gap: Observer groups and election analysts (FAFEN,
academic blogs) documented changing gender turnout dynamics in 2024 noting
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improvements in some areas but persistent gaps in others, driven by mobility restrictions,
CNIC/registration issues, cultural constraints and local access to polling stations.

These analyses provide constituency-level and demographic breakdowns useful for

targeting awareness work. FAFEN

Official ECP resources & outreach: The Election Commission of Pakistan published election
materials and ran voter-education campaigns (including outreach specifically aimed at
increasing women’s participation). For formal (official) turnout figures and constituency
data check ECP public.

Source: Free and Fair Election Network FAFEN

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Female Participation in 2024 Elections: Turnout Dynamics

1. Female Voter Registration: Progress but Still Behind

Female voter registration in Pakistan has improved significantly over the past decade,
mainly due to special efforts under Section 47 of the Elections Act 2017. Between 2018 and
2024, 12.5 million new women were added to the electoral roll more than men during the
same period. As a result, the gender gap in registration dropped from 11.8% to 7.7%, which
shows steady progress. However, women still remain under-registered compared to their
share in the population, and rural, urban inequalities continue to affect female inclusion.

2. Female Votes Polled: Rising Numbers but Falling Turnout

Although more women voted in 2024 than in 2018, female turnout actually declined.
Women cast 24.4 million votes in GE-2024, an increase of 2.7 million, but their turnout fell
from 46.9% to 42.7%. This means more women are on the electoral roll and more are
voting, but their proportionate participation is decreasing. The gap between male and
female votes narrowed, yet women still lag far behind men in turnout and political
engagement.
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3. Female Turnout Compared to Men: Gap Narrowing but Still Wide

The gender turnout gap remains a major concern. In 2024, the male turnout was 51.8%,
while female turnout was 42.7%, showing a 9-point gap. Although this is slightly better than
the 10-point gap in 2018, it still indicates that women participate far less than men. Only
four constituencies in the entire country recorded female turnout higher than male
turnout, down from 19 in 2018. This shows that improvements in female participation are
uneven and fragile.

4. Female Voting in Rural and Urban Areas: Rural Women More Active
Female voting behavior differs sharply between regions. Rural women participate more
than urban women, mainly because rural constituencies generally have higher turnout
overall. Urban areas recorded only 43.8% turnout, while rural areas recorded 50.1%
turnout, and this pattern is reflected among women as well. Predominantly urban
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constituencies had the lowest female engagement, showing that urban disengagement is
now one of the biggest barriers to improving women’s political participation.

5. Female Polling Stations: Low Turnout and Accessibility Issues

Female-only polling stations showed the lowest turnout levels, averaging 40.5%, far below
male and combined stations. Most female polling stations fell into lower turnout categories
(31–50%). A serious issue is the rise in zero turnout stations: in GE-2024, 464 polling
stations recorded no female votes, compared to 94 in 2018. This indicates obstacles such
as mobility restrictions, lack of polling station access, cultural constraints, and security fears
that prevent women from voting.
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6. Constituency-Level Patterns: Female Participation Declining

Female voting behavior shows strong constituency-level variation. High-turnout
constituencies (over 60%) have dropped drastically nationwide, and female turnout has
diminished similarly. Only one constituency in Punjab, one in KP, and two in Islamabad
recorded female turnout higher than men, a clear drop from previous elections. Most
constituencies (over 250) still show female turnout below male turnout. This reflects
persistent gender norms, limited mobility, and structural barriers affecting women’s ability
to vote.
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Reasons for Low Female Participation in Voting

1. Cultural and Social Restrictions

In many areas, especially rural regions, women face strong cultural norms that discourage
them from going out alone or participating in political activities. Some families and
communities believe that politics is only for men, which limits women’s independence.

2. Patriarchal Family System

Many women are not allowed to make their own decisions. Male family members (father,
brother, husband) often decide whom they will vote for or whether they will vote at all.

3. Low Literacy and Limited Political Awareness

A large number of women, especially in rural areas, have low literacy levels. Because of
this, they often lack understanding about:

 why voting is important

 how the voting process works
 their right to vote

This reduces their confidence and willingness to participate.

4. Lack of National Identity Cards (NICs)

Many women do not have CNICs, which are necessary for voting. Barriers include:

 mobility restrictions
 lack of documentation
 low awareness
 family members not prioritizing women’s CNIC registration

This is one of the biggest reasons for low turnout.

5. Mobility Issues
In some areas, women cannot travel to polling stations due to:

 long distances
 lack of transport
 security concerns
 permission restrictions from male family members
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6. Gender Segregation Practices

Some communities restrict women from going to public places where men are present.
Polling stations may be crowded, which discourages women from participating.

7. Political Parties’ Weak Engagement with Women

Political parties often do not conduct strong awareness campaigns for women. Women
receive less attention in political mobilization and door-to-door campaigns.

8. Fear of Violence or Harassment

Election environments can sometimes be tense. In some areas, women avoid voting
because they fear violence, harassment, or political clashes.

9. Agreements between Male Elders (Jirga/Panchayat)

In some villages, male elders make collective decisions to stop women from voting. These
informal agreements are illegal but still happen in some places.

10. Economic Dependence

Since many women depend financially on male family members, they also depend on them
for decisions, including voting choices.

11. Lack of Confidence in Political System

Some women feel their vote will not make a difference because:

 they do not trust political leaders

 they lack interest in politics
 they believe the system is controlled by men
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Source: Survey Result & ECP Reports

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Awareness Campaign

Description
As part of the Civics and Community Engagement course, our group conducted an
awareness campaign focused on Female Participation in Voting. The campaign was
carried out in multiple classes within the Department of Political Science.

Key Messages
● Importance of voting as a constitutional right.
● Role of women’s votes in strengthening democracy.
● Comparison of male and female voter turnout in Pakistan.
● Explanation of reasons behind low female turnout.
● Steps to register as a voter (CNIC requirements).
● Encouragement to support and motivate women in households.

Approach Used
● Short interactive talks.
● Classroom discussions.
● Question-and-answer sessions.
● Motivational examples from real-life situations.

Observations
From the awareness campaign and interactions with students, we observed:

● Many students had basic knowledge about elections but lacked awareness of the
turnout gap between men and women.
● Female students expressed willingness to vote but highlighted challenges related to
mobility and family restrictions.
● Some students were unaware of the voter registration process or CNIC
requirements.
● A majority of students agreed that women are often discouraged from voting due to
cultural or societal pressures.
● Students appreciated the campaign and considered it a helpful initiative for
promoting political awareness.
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Recommendations & Possible Solutions

To increase female participation in voting, the following solutions are recommended:

1. Regular Civic Education Programs

Universities and colleges should include periodic awareness seminars about
elections, registration, and voting rights.

2. Voter Registration Support Desks

Institutions should collaborate with NADRA and ECP to organize CNIC and voter
registration camps for students.

3. Family-Level Awareness
Students should encourage open conversations within families to support female
members in voting.

4. Safe & Accessible Polling Stations

Authorities must ensure female-friendly polling environments with improved
security and accessibility.

5. Transportation Assistance
Providing transportation options especially in rural areas can significantly increase
women’s ability to vote.

6. Social Media Awareness Campaigns

Use digital platforms to broadcast messages promoting women’s electoral
participation.

7. Community Mobilization
Local governments and NGOs should work together to raise awareness in areas
with consistently low female turnout.

Conclusion
Female participation strengthens democratic legitimacy. The 2024 election analyses show
both progress in absolute numbers and persistent structural gaps. Campus-level
awareness, registration help, family outreach, and logistical support are practical, scalable
steps students can take to increase women’s electoral participation.