JHELUM: In a noteworthy development, Jhelum’s voter registration rate has reached 76% of its projected 2025 population, significantly exceeding Pakistan’s national voter registration ratio of 54%. This figure places Jhelum at the forefront of voter registration both nationwide and within Punjab, as it ranks first in both categories.

According to the Free and Fair Election Network, the data stems from district-wise electoral roll statistics published by the Election Commission of Pakistan on December 30, 2025. These statistics were cross-referenced against population estimates derived from the 2023 Digital Census. The estimated population for 2025 was calculated using a 2.08% inter-censal annual growth rate, resulting in a projected population of 1,440,410 from a base of 1,382,308. The registration rate was determined by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.

Currently, Jhelum has 1.1 million registered voters, comprising 560,348 males (51.1%) and 535,517 females (48.9%), with both genders having an identical registration rate of 76%. The district is represented by two Members of the National Assembly and ranks 68th out of 136 districts nationally by population size.

The high voter registration rate in Jhelum is attributed to specific rules from the 2023 Digital Census. These rules included not enumerating household members absent for over six months at their home address and recording previous household members at their current address. As a result, many of Jhelum’s permanent residents, who have migrated to urban centers like Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad for employment, were counted at their destination during the census but remain registered in Jhelum based on their permanent CNIC address. This discrepancy between the population denominator and the registered voter roll has contributed to the district’s registration rate exceeding the national average.

Notably, female voters account for 48.9% of Jhelum’s registered electorate, indicating a narrow gender gap of 2.3%. Despite the high registration rate, ongoing efforts to ensure equitable female voter registration remain crucial.