Karachi: Sindh recorded a 29% voter turnout for its Provincial Assembly during the 1997 General Elections, marking the lowest level of electoral participation in the province’s history. Out of 12.91 million registered voters, only 3.74 million votes were cast, highlighting significant engagement challenges in Pakistan's second-most populous province.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the turnout figures represent a stark divergence from earlier election years, reflecting the pronounced urban-rural divide in political mobilisation within Sindh. The province, which includes the populous urban areas of Karachi and Hyderabad as well as rural agrarian communities, has shown varying patterns of voter engagement over the years. While gender-disaggregated data for voter registration and turnout in 1997 were unavailable, systematic recording of such data was only initiated from the 2018 elections.

The election also saw 71,288 ballots rejected, accounting for 1.9% of the total votes polled. Historically, the rejection rate in Sindh has fluctuated, with notable peaks in 2013 and 2018. These variations have been attributed to changes in electoral processes and voter roll complexities. Over the decades, Sindh's electorate has expanded significantly, growing from 5.3 million in 1970 to 27.0 million by 2024. Despite this increase, voter turnout has varied, with the highest recorded at 60.7% in 1988.