Development of an Instrument for Measuring the Voting Behaviour in Pakistan

Asim Raza; Nasreen Akhtar

doi:10.32350/jarms.72.01

Authors

Asim Raza International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2745-1556
Nasreen Akhtar International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1060-1443

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/jarms.72.01

Keywords:

issue-based, kinship, measuring instrument, voting behaviour, party affiliation

Abstract

Understanding voting behaviour is essential for analysing democratic processes, electoral accountability, and political participation. In Pakistan, electoral behaviour varies significantly across provinces due to socio-economic disparities, political culture, identity politics, and institutional trust. Despite a growing body of empirical research, the absence of a standardized and longitudinally applicable measurement tool has constrained comparative and cumulative electoral analysis. This article presents a systematic re-conceptualisation, formulation and validation of an instrument designed in the form of a questionnaire to measure voting behaviour in a selected region of Pakistan across the last four general elections from 2008 to 2024. Drawing upon established theories of voting behaviour, international electoral survey frameworks, and Pakistan-specific empirical studies, the article critically evaluates existing tools and proposes a structured, reliable, and context-sensitive questionnaire. Each stage of instrument development is supported by relevant scholarly literature and methodological standards, ensuring validity, reliability, and applicability in the Pakistani provincial context.

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Author Biography

Asim Raza, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

PHD Scholar at International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan, and Director, ODL (Open and Distance Learning), Bahira University Islamabad, Head Office.

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