WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN ELECTORAL POLITICS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTIONS 2018 AND 2024 IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Women are nearly half of the global population. Their involvement in elections is key to making sure their views are heard and their needs are met. When women vote or run for office, they bring new ideas and different experiences. This makes politics more diverse and comfortable. Society benefits when women take part in choosing leaders and shaping decisions. Their participation strengthens democracy and brings stability to political discussions. This study explores women's roles in Pakistan’s politics, comparing their participation in the 2018 and 2024 elections. Although more women registered to vote in 2024, their voter turnout dropped. It went from 46.89% in 2018 to just 41.3%. The study highlights that women are still rarely chosen as candidates. In the 2024 elections, only 313 women ran in more than 17,800 races. When comparing this data with past research, it reveals that social and structural hurdles still exist. These barriers make it harder for women to participate as candidates and get elected. These obstacles slow women's participation in Pakistan’s elections and limit their chances to run for office. The results highlight the importance of focused efforts to improve gender equality and boost women's roles in politics. Doing so can strengthen Pakistan’s democratic system. This study enhances the growing research on women’s political involvement in Pakistan. It offers useful insights for policymakers, researchers, and anyone interested in encouraging women to take part in elections.