Pakistan’s increase in women voters masks a democratic paradox

Pakistan has made measurable progress in reducing the gender gap in voter registration. More women are now listed on electoral rolls than ever before.

Yet this administrative success masks a troubling democratic reality: while the number of registered women voters increased significantly before the 2024 general elections, overall voter turnout declined from 52.1% in 2018 to 47.6% in 2024.

The contradiction raises an important democratic question: why are more women registering to vote while fewer citizens, including many women, are turning out on election day?

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan’s electoral rolls for the 2024 general elections included approximately 128.6 million registered voters.

Of these, around 69.3 million were men and 59.3 million were women. In comparison, about 105.9 million voters registered for the 2018 general elections, including nearly 46.7 million women voters. This means that between 2018 and 2024, the number of registered women voters increased by more than 12 million.

Turnout drops

These figures reflect substantial administrative progress

Over the past several years, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) intensified efforts to reduce Pakistan’s gender gap in voter registration through mobile registration campaigns, drives to provide them with national identity cards and awareness initiatives targeting women, particularly in rural and under-served areas.

Historically, many Pakistani women were excluded from electoral rolls...

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