For members of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), 2016 ended with rejuvenated energies and tense excitement. 2016 was an election year for PUAN and from November to December candidates fiercely campaigned with their political slogans, manifestos, and mandates, while voters deliberated with perspicacity. The fervor in the General Election this year was one that was not seen before.
After a stringent voter verification process, 54 men and women rose to positions of power. These elected individuals, however, went through a vigorous process of vetting prior to their selection as nominees. Throughout the month of December, nominees prepared campaign strategies, formed alliances, participated in town hall debates, and engaged with their voters – both online and offline. An election committee, in each chapter, worked tirelessly to ensure that no violation took place.
Record Voter Participation
Since 2010, every two years the network conducts its general election to democratically elect alumni from across Pakistan. This year, we received a record number of applications for nominations and a record number of votes! 92 candidates from across the 12 chapters of PUAN competed against 54 open seats and received a total of 11865 votes. More than 1400 female and 2000 male alumni cast their votes, resulting in an all-time high in voter participation!
E-Voting System
The newly introduced e-voting system for PUAN elections ensured that a seamless voting process took place. Alumni had five days to cast their votes and from December 19 – 23, 2016, and over 3000 alumni participated.
Head over to www.pakusalumninetwork.com/Elections2016 to view the results!
Going Digital
Leveraging the power of digital media, candidates participated in e-campaigning with great fervor! All twelve online chapter groups of PUAN were ablaze with posters, notes, and short videos with compelling statements by the candidates.
[youtube youtubeurl=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcflTjXXQI&list=PLjfaqQd4yRDmGsPasSGlVbEgtnUB5Cgdg&index=24″ ][/youtube]
To sum it up, Elections 2016 saw:
- A record number of nominations – 92 candidates against 54 open seats!
- Selection of 24 female candidates and 30 male candidates to serve on the chapters’ leadership;
- An increase in voter participation by 136%!
- Participation from alumni of 39 different exchange programs;
- A compelling digital campaign by each candidate;
- An e-voting system that eased the process of voting;
- The most number of verified votes were cast in Gilgit-Baltistan, followed by Islamabad/Rawalpindi and KP- FATA chapters;
- Bahawalpur had the highest number of voters
- An all-women leadership in Bahawalpur chapter
- Alumni of the English Access Microscholarship Program, Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, and the Youth Exchange and Study Program were the most active voting groups!
Congratulations to the newly elected leadership! We’re positive that your leadership over the next two years will further the PUAN mission of strengthening people-to-people ties!
