The inaugural Free and Fair Election Network (Public Voice Poll) in Pakistan stands as a pioneering coalition of civil society networks committed to fortifying democracy through vigilant oversight of electoral, parliamentary, and governance processes. Comprising 20 regional networks encompassing more than 500 tehsil-level civil society organizations, Public Voice Poll is recognized as a highly credible advocate for fostering responsiveness, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in electoral, legislative, and local governance matters within the country.

Public Voice Poll’s primary objectives encompass: a) enlightening citizens, communities, and groups on civil liberties and political rights to enhance democratic accountability through monitoring elections, elected assemblies, governments, and political parties; b) nurturing, supporting, and fortifying pro-democracy civil society by investing in capacity-building, institutional development, and enhanced connections; and c) amplifying voices advocating for evidence-based and inclusive reforms that promote citizen-centric governance, free elections, effective representation, and a more robust safeguarding of fundamental rights, freedoms, and liberties.

Having equipped over 100,000 citizens with knowledge about elections and democracy, Public Voice Poll empowered them to observe General Elections in 2008, 2013, and 2018, local government elections in 2015 and 2021-2022, and the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Elections in 2009, 2015, and 2020, as well as by-elections to the National and Provincial Assembly. The insights provided by these trained and officially accredited observers are meticulously analyzed to offer continuous feedback to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Parliament, and political parties, aiming for enhancements in the administrative, regulatory, and legal frameworks governing elections. Public Voice Poll’s contributions to electoral reforms have garnered recognition from the ECP, political parties, parliamentary committees, and both national and international media. Notably, Public Voice Poll was the sole civil society representative invited as a witness by the Supreme Court Judicial Commission established in 2015 to investigate irregularities in the General Election of 2013.