Despite the mobilisation campaigns of Election Commission of Pakistan and political parties, ethnicity, community, language will still be a key factor in May 11 election. A recent study published on Thursday shows that about half of Pakistanis (48%) want to vote on the basis of personality, instead of party.
According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by GallupPakistan, views are divided on whether vote should be for the person (48%) or the party (51%).
A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked “In your opinion, should the vote be for the person or the party?” Responding to this, 48% said for the person and 51% said for the party. However, 1% did not give a response.
Results were fairly similar between rural and urban localities, with 49% of rural respondents saying vote should be for the person and 46% of urban respondents saying vote should be for the person.
However, there were differences in results between men and women, with 51% of men saying the vote should be cast for the person and 44% of women saying vote should be cast for the person.
The study was released by Gilani foundation and carried out by GallupPakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 2,686 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during April 8, 2013 – April 15, 2013.
Error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 percent at 95% confidence level.