Rajanpur: In the recent general elections of 2024, the elected Member of the National Assembly from NA-188 Rajanpur-II secured a seat with only 23% support from registered voters, highlighting significant gaps between votes cast and voter representation. The winning candidate garnered 85,979 votes, or 45% of the 189,370 ballots cast, under Pakistan’s First-Past-The-Post electoral system.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the official Final Consolidated Result for the constituency showed a voter turnout of 51%. Despite securing the seat, the winning candidate did not receive the majority support of those who voted on February 8, 2024. Out of the total ballots cast, 95,831, representing 51%, were in favor of other candidates. The second-place candidate obtained 37% of the votes, while the third-place candidate captured 7%. The remaining candidates collectively drew 6% of the vote, and 4% or 7,560 ballots were rendered invalid.

This analysis is part of FAFEN’s examination of electoral representativeness across Pakistan’s 266 National Assembly constituencies. Under the current FPTP system, candidates win seats by obtaining the highest number of votes, not necessarily a majority of votes cast. FAFEN’s documentation illustrates that in many constituencies, elected representatives do not have majority backing. The findings contrast with a proportional representation system, where seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes each party or candidate receives, potentially offering a more accurate reflection of voter preferences. The GE-2024 results underscore the disparity in voter representation across the country’s constituencies.