THE approaching general election in Pakistan is not just about choosing a political party that promises the best change, but one that can solve some of the most pressing issues, particularly those impacting young citizens. It is for the first time that the country has registered such a large number of young people with voting rights. According to the electoral rolls, some 46m individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 years are registered to vote out of an electorate of 105.96m. Many among the 17.44m voters between 18 and 25 years would be casting their ballot for the first time; however, it remains to be seen how many will actually vote on election day, especially those in the 26 and 35 age bracket — about 28.99m registered voters. Many of the latter have experienced years of socioeconomic poverty that has left them disillusioned and unable to foresee real change. If the 2013 polls are anything to go by, being registered to vote does not necessarily translate into a large turnout at the ballot box. Nonetheless, young citizens — including activists demanding development and rights in the country’s most underprivileged regions — will hopefully use their vote wisely to elect politicians that better represent them, and hold them accountable to their democratic duties.

Evidently, the understanding that effective political and civic participation by the youth is a prerequisite for democracy is lost on political parties. Though the PTI saw itself as a champion of the youth agenda in 2013, it failed to galvanise a diverse cross section of young voters, especially in the rural areas. Clearly, it takes more than media messaging, Twitter campaigns and Facebook ‘likes’ — and even online supporters attacking opposition parties’ candidates — to displace traditional voting patterns. So, amid the various unknowns for this election, it is impossible to predict the youth voter turnout. Punjab with the largest youth bulge among the provinces will be interesting to watch. While the PML-N has won praise for its investment in development, the question is how many among the young will actually support it as right-leaning parties gain ground. Mustering a full youth vote requires long-term political planning. Educational institutes must help young people develop political consciousness, while parties should prioritise young people’s demands and empower them to become future leaders. If young voters want to turn the coming election into a transformative opportunity, choices made at the ballot box will matter.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018