A report by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) published on Sunday revealed that in 18% of communities in National Assembly constituencies, women voters cast different ballots than their male counterparts during the 2024 General Elections (GE).
The findings compare voting outcomes from male and female polling stations. In 82% of the communities, male and female voters aligned on their choice of the winner, with both groups returning the same victor from their respective polling stations. However, in 18% of communities, the male and female voters selected different winners, with urban communities showing more diverging choices than rural ones.
The report showed significant regional differences. Islamabad had the highest proportion, with 37% of electoral communities having male and female polling stations with different winners. Balochistan followed closely, with 32%, Sindh reported 19%, and Punjab reported 18%. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had the lowest, at 13%.
Pakistan General Elections 2024 Political Party Trends
In the 3,884 communities where women’s choices differed from the men’s, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received the most support from female voters, securing wins in 1,260 communities. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) followed with 1,027 communities, and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) was supported in 694 communities. Regionally, PTI performed strongly across the country, while PML-N maintained dominance in Punjab, and PPPP led in Sindh.
Read: FAFEN Releases Full Report on 2024 General Election
In 37 National Assembly constituencies, most female voters did not support the winning candidates. However, in 226 constituencies, most female voters backed the winning candidates. Notably, in 166 constituencies, more female voters supported the winning candidate than male voters.
In seven constituencies, including NA-43 Tank-cum-Dera Ismail Khan, NA-49 Attock-I, and NA-163 Bahawalnagar-IV, the lead from female polling stations played a pivotal role in determining the overall outcome. For instance, in NA-43 Tank-cum-Dera Ismail Khan, PTI won by a narrow margin of 555 votes, with a 1,430-vote lead from female polling stations.
