Sahiwal: Sahiwal's voter registration rate is notably higher than the national average, with 61% of its estimated 2025 population registered to vote, surpassing the national ratio of 54% by seven percentage points.
According to Free and Fair Election Network, these statistics were derived from district-wise electoral roll data published by the Election Commission of Pakistan on December 30, 2025, and aligned with population estimates from the 2023 Digital Census. The population estimate for 2025 was calculated using a 2.31% inter-censal annual growth rate on Sahiwal's census base population of 2,881,811, resulting in an estimated population of 3,016,488. The voter registration rate was determined by comparing the number of registered voters to this estimated population.
The district of Sahiwal has 1.8 million registered voters, comprising 986,165 males (53.7%) and 851,527 females (46.3%). Among males, 64% of the estimated population is registered to vote, while the figure for females is 57%. Nationally, Sahiwal ranks 24th out of 136 districts by population size and is represented by three Members of the National Assembly. In terms of voter registration rate, it ranks 19th nationwide and 12th out of 36 districts within Punjab.
Two specific rules from Pakistan's 2023 Digital Census have contributed to Sahiwal's higher-than-average registration rate. Household members absent for over six months were not counted at their home address, and former household members living elsewhere were recorded at their current address. Labour migration and employment opportunities in major urban centers like Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad have drawn many permanent residents from Sahiwal, who were counted at their new locations during the census. However, they remain registered as voters in Sahiwal based on their permanent CNIC address, resulting in a smaller population denominator compared to the registered voter roll and thus a higher registration ratio.
Female voters make up 46.3% of Sahiwal's registered electorate, highlighting a gender gap of 7.3%. Despite the district's strong overall registration rate, continued outreach efforts are essential to achieve equitable female voter registration.