Family As Determinant of the Gender and Age Based Voting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Comparison of Voting Behavior Before 2013 And Pro-Pti Voting

Abstract

Voting behavior is the inclination of a voter towards a particular political party or a candidate. There are different social, political and economic factors which influence the voting behavior of people. This research study aimed to explore the role of family as a determinant of gender based and age based voting behavior in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in elections before 2013 and pro- PTI voting behavior in the recent three elections. Both time lapses are then compared to see the change in voting behavior with respect to gender and age in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The mixed method research approach was used in this research. Tools for data collection are questionnaire and interview guide. The population of the study consists of all the registered and literate voters of district Malakand. A sample of 400 respondents for questionnaires survey is randomly chosen by using multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Interviews are conducted with the relevant stack holders including political science experts, political workers and journalists. The quantitative data analysis is done through descriptive and inferential statistics while six-step model of thematic analysis is employed for qualitative data. By integrating the results of qualitative data and quantitative data, it is found that the gender based voting behavior has changed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2013. This research has further explained that before 2013, women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would mostly vote on the basis of instructions of the family, elders or male members. However, in voting for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in the recent three elections, it is evident that, women have chosen to vote independently, instead of the family instructions. For the second objective, it is found that youth were more inclined to vote on the elders’ instructions before 2013 however, in the pro-PTI voting behavior in last three elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they have voted independently instead of the family instructions.