Dadu-IV By-Election Witnesses Decline in Voter Turnout

• Low Incidence of Electoral Irregularities Observed

ISLAMABAD, November 8, 2019: Low turnout of voters marked the peaceful by-election for Sindh Assembly constituency PS-86 Dadu-IV. Observers deployed by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) recorded a relatively lesser incidence of procedural irregularities in comparison to a recent by-election for PS-11 Larkana-II, says FAFEN’s observation report.

The report is based on the observation of 68 polling stations recorded by 24 observers who used a standardized methodology based on the Elections Act, 2017, Election Rules 2017, ECP Codes of Conduct and Handbooks for election officials. Each of these trained, nonpartisan and duly accredited observers visited up to four polling stations on Election Day to directly observe and report on the election environment inside and outside polling stations, instances of electoral and political violence, pre-voting preparations at polling stations, and voting and counting processes inside polling stations. Each observer spent nearly one hour at each polling station to observe polling processes.

Despite a competitive campaign, the voter turnout witnessed a substantial decline. The by-election recorded a turnout of 36.2 percent of registered voters- dropping from 51.4 percent recorded for the constituency during GE-2018. The turnout of men voters decreased from 51.06 percent in GE-2018 to 36.25 percent while the women turnout fell from 51.84 percent to 36.19 percent.

For Thursday’s by-election, as many as 72,392 registered voters- 40,004 men and 32,388 women- exercised their right to vote. A total of 199,858 voters were registered- 110,365 men and 89,493 women- for the by-election. The constituency went to by-election with 20,188 more voters- an addition of 9,847 men and 10,341 women voters- than those registered for GE-2018.

Pir Syed Saleh Shah Jilani, the candidate for Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) won the by-election by securing 40,595 votes (56 percent of total polled votes) with Imdad Hussain Leghari, the runner-up candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) getting 25,406 votes (35 percent of polled votes). According to the Provisional Consolidated Statement of the Result of the Count (Form-47), a total of 3,013 (four percent) votes were excluded from the count.

During GE 2018, the constituency had witnessed a relatively closer contest when the returned candidate from PPPP had secured 43,720 votes- 47.3 percent of total polled votes- against a PTI runner-up’s 38,794 votes- 42 percent of total polled votes. The by-election was warranted due to death of the member representing the constituency Syed Ghulam Shah Jilani. PTI has tried a different candidate for the constituency for by-election.

To download the report, click here