In the run-up to the general elections set for February 8, there has been a significant surge in the number of young voters in Islamabad, comprising nearly half of the total electorate, amounting to approximately 60 million out of 128.58 million voters. This represents a substantial increase from the 2018 figures, with 56.86 million young voters now constituting 44.22% of the total, compared to 43.82% in 2018. Of this demographic, 34.5 million are male and 25.6 million are female voters. Moreover, there are 15 million newly eligible voters who have come of age since the last election, marking their first opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
This burgeoning cohort of young voters has captured the attention of political parties, who are now aiming to engage and mobilize this demographic. The documents obtained by The Express Tribune reveal that 23.5 million individuals aged between 18 and 25, including 14.8 million male and 9.32 million female voters, are set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections. Additionally, there are 33.3 million eligible voters aged between 26 and 35, comprising 17.89 million males and 15.44 million females.
The data further illustrates the geographical distribution of this demographic, with 10.7 million young voters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 31.8 million in Punjab, 11.3 million in Sindh, and 2.4 million in Balochistan. Notably, the federal capital hosts 472,000 young voters. Urban centers, including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and others, are home to a substantial number of young voters, presenting a new frontier for political parties seeking to secure their support.
Analysts highlight the potential influence of these young voters, emphasizing their capacity to sway the outcome of the general elections, not only through casting their votes but also by leveraging social media to sway others. As such, mobilizing and engaging this demographic has emerged as a critical focal point for political parties as they gear up for the impending electoral contest.
