Pakistan’s General Elections 2013: Stakes and Prospects

On May 11, 2013, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, the country will hold general elections after a legislature has completed its term. While much attention has been paid to security’s effects on the elections, other key factors, such as demography, will also influence the outcome. Of Pakistan’s 90 million voters, 40 million will be voting for the first time. This makes the election seem more open than ever. The event also provided an opportunity to discuss new Pew Research Center polling on Pakistani public opinion. Simbal Khan, Malik Siraj Akbar, Richard Wike, and Daniel Markey discussed the key factors, the stakes, and prospects for Pakistan's elections. Steve Inskeep, host of NPR’s Morning Edition, moderated.