Youth could tip the scales in 2018 elections
People between ages of 18 and 36 years constitute 44pc of registered voters
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
People between ages of 18 and 36 years will play a decisive role in the next general elections because they constitute 44 per cent of registered voters across the county, latest data of electoral rolls show.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) updated latest electoral rolls on its website, declaring 97.02 million to be total number of voters.
Another five million voters would be added to this list once ECP completed verification of new CNIC holders, ECP officials said.
More than 10 million new voters have been added since the 2013 general elections.
6th census findings: 207 million and counting
In 2013, there were 86 million people registered in the voters’ list.
ECP officials anticipate the number to cross 100-million mark by next general elections, due to be held in August next year.
As many as 54.6 million (or 56 per cent) are men and 42.42 million (or 44 per cent) are women, depicting an unnatural gender gap of 12 per cent.
It is estimated that more than 12.17 million women of 18 years or above – who are otherwise eligible to be registered as voters – are not included in the voter list.
The primary reason for this discrepancy is that they do not have Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), which is compulsory for enlisting in the electoral lists.
Election authorities are planning to launch a national public awareness campaign soon to encourage all people, who are eligible to be registered as voters, to get CNICs and register themselves as voters.
ECP would be holding National Voters’ Day on December 7 this year.
This year, women would be encouraged to get registered as voters and turn up to cast their votes in elections.
Under the Elections Act of 2017, if women voting in any constituency was less than 10 per cent of total votes polled, the ECP would annul the results and call a re-election.
Karachi up top, but not by much
Most significant aspect of updated voter list is 14.69 million (or 15 per cent of the total) are between the ages of 18 and 25, while 27.69 million (or 29 per cent) are between the ages of 26 and 36. These two age groups constitute 44 per cent of total registered voters.
There are 20.32 million (or 21 per cent of the total voters) between the ages of 36 and 45. These three age groups constitute more than 64 per cent of the total number of voters.
According to data, there are 14.84 million (or 15 per cent) between ages of 46 and 55, 9.89 million between ages of 56 and 65 (or 10 per cent) and people above 65 years of age are just 9.55 million (or 10 per cent) registered voters.
Punjab dominates
Punjab, with 148 National Assembly seats, overwhelmingly dominates in electoral rolls having a total of 55.82 million (or 57.53 per cent) of total registered voters.
In Punjab, 8.5 million (or 15 per cent of the 55.82 million) voters fall under 18-25 age group, while 15.45 million (or 28 per cent) are in 26-35 age group, which again amounts to nearly 43 per cent of voters in the province.
ECP data shows that 11.62 million (or 21 per cent) of all voters in Punjab fall in 36-45 age group, 8.7 million in 46-55 age group, nearly 5.66 million in 56-65 age group and 5.77 million voters are above 65 years of age.
Meanwhile, Sindh has 20.644 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 14.01 million, Balochistan 3.7 million, FATA 2.1 million and Islamabad 690,000 voters.
People between ages of 18 and 36 years will play a decisive role in the next general elections because they constitute 44 per cent of registered voters across the county, latest data of electoral rolls show.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) updated latest electoral rolls on its website, declaring 97.02 million to be total number of voters.
Another five million voters would be added to this list once ECP completed verification of new CNIC holders, ECP officials said.
More than 10 million new voters have been added since the 2013 general elections.
6th census findings: 207 million and counting
In 2013, there were 86 million people registered in the voters’ list.
ECP officials anticipate the number to cross 100-million mark by next general elections, due to be held in August next year.
As many as 54.6 million (or 56 per cent) are men and 42.42 million (or 44 per cent) are women, depicting an unnatural gender gap of 12 per cent.
It is estimated that more than 12.17 million women of 18 years or above – who are otherwise eligible to be registered as voters – are not included in the voter list.
The primary reason for this discrepancy is that they do not have Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), which is compulsory for enlisting in the electoral lists.
Election authorities are planning to launch a national public awareness campaign soon to encourage all people, who are eligible to be registered as voters, to get CNICs and register themselves as voters.
ECP would be holding National Voters’ Day on December 7 this year.
This year, women would be encouraged to get registered as voters and turn up to cast their votes in elections.
Under the Elections Act of 2017, if women voting in any constituency was less than 10 per cent of total votes polled, the ECP would annul the results and call a re-election.
Karachi up top, but not by much
Most significant aspect of updated voter list is 14.69 million (or 15 per cent of the total) are between the ages of 18 and 25, while 27.69 million (or 29 per cent) are between the ages of 26 and 36. These two age groups constitute 44 per cent of total registered voters.
There are 20.32 million (or 21 per cent of the total voters) between the ages of 36 and 45. These three age groups constitute more than 64 per cent of the total number of voters.
According to data, there are 14.84 million (or 15 per cent) between ages of 46 and 55, 9.89 million between ages of 56 and 65 (or 10 per cent) and people above 65 years of age are just 9.55 million (or 10 per cent) registered voters.
Punjab dominates
Punjab, with 148 National Assembly seats, overwhelmingly dominates in electoral rolls having a total of 55.82 million (or 57.53 per cent) of total registered voters.
In Punjab, 8.5 million (or 15 per cent of the 55.82 million) voters fall under 18-25 age group, while 15.45 million (or 28 per cent) are in 26-35 age group, which again amounts to nearly 43 per cent of voters in the province.
ECP data shows that 11.62 million (or 21 per cent) of all voters in Punjab fall in 36-45 age group, 8.7 million in 46-55 age group, nearly 5.66 million in 56-65 age group and 5.77 million voters are above 65 years of age.
Meanwhile, Sindh has 20.644 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 14.01 million, Balochistan 3.7 million, FATA 2.1 million and Islamabad 690,000 voters.