ISLAMABAD:
The representativeness of Pakistan’s electoral outcomes has not proven any enchancment over the previous 20 years, with successive nationwide and provincial assemblies securing mandates from fewer than 1 / 4 of registered voters and barely half of those that solid ballots.
This was revealed by the most recent report by the Free and Honest Election Community (FAFEN) titled “Illustration in Pakistan’s Elections (2002-2024)”.
The report underscores the systemic inadequacies in aligning the make-up of the legislatures with the voters’ intent, which drives political instability within the nation by eroding public belief in electoral outcomes.
It requires fast parliamentary and political motion to reform structural flaws within the current First-Previous-the-Put up (FPTP) system, which is used to elect members on common seats within the nationwide and provincial assemblies.
FAFEN’s evaluation reveals a persistent illustration hole throughout 5 common elections since 2002.
The Nationwide Meeting ensuing from GE-2002 loved the help of 20 per cent of the registered voters and 47 per cent of the polled votes whereas the meeting ensuing from GE-2008 represented 22 per cent of the registered voters and 50 per cent of the polled votes.
Equally, the assemblies ensuing from the final elections of 2013, 2018 and 2024 represented 26 per cent, 22 per cent and 21 per cent of the registered voters, and 48 per cent, 43 per cent and 45 per cent of the polled votes, respectively.
The constituency-level evaluation of GE-2024 outcomes reveals that not one of the 265 constituencies returned a winner securing a majority of the registered voters.
Nearly three-quarters of the constituencies (202 or 76 per cent) returned winners supported by lower than 25 per cent of the registered voters whereas the winners within the remaining 63 (24 per cent) constituencies had a 25 per cent to 50 per cent help base among the many registered voters.
When it comes to polled votes, winners in 69 (26 per cent) Nationwide Meeting constituencies secured above 50 per cent of the polled votes, whereas the remaining 196 (74 per cent) secured lower than half of the polled votes.
The result of provincial assemblies’ elections throughout GE-2024 mirrored nationwide tendencies, as winners in solely two constituencies secured greater than 50 per cent of the registered votes. In most (499 or 85 per cent) provincial constituencies, the proportion of profitable candidates constituted lower than 25 per cent of registered voters.
When it comes to winners’ proportion of polled votes, winners in solely 107 (18 per cent) provincial constituencies secured greater than 50 per cent of the polled votes.
The report identifies the prevailing FPTP electoral system as a key driver of unrepresentative outcomes.
Whereas low voter turnout stays a priority, the FPTP system exacerbates the disaster by awarding victory to candidates who safe probably the most votes in a constituency, no matter whether or not they obtain majority help.