Generational Shift Reshapes Australia’s Voting Power
Gen Y and Gen Z now collectively hold more power at the ballot box than Baby Boomers, marking a turning point in Australia’s electoral landscape as the country approaches the next federal election. The latest data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows that Gen Y and Gen Z combined now make up 43.1 per cent of registered voters, surpassing the Baby Boomers and older generations, who together account for just 31.2 per cent of the electorate.
Electoral Strength Transferred Over Time
Back in 2007, Gen Y had only partially entered the voting pool, while Gen Z’s oldest members were just 10 years old, meaning Baby Boomers held 34.2 per cent of the vote, followed by Gen X at 28.2 per cent and the Silent Generation or older at 23.2 per cent, giving those aged 59 and above a combined voting strength of 57.4 per cent. This voting dominance remained intact until the 2013 election, but it has steadily declined as younger generations entered the electorate in greater numbers.
Generational Numbers in 2025 Election
As of the latest data ahead of the 2025 federal election, Australia has 18.1 million registered voters, with Gen Y comprising 26.9 per cent of the roll, Gen Z contributing 16.2 per cent, and Gen X now holding 25.7 per cent, while Baby Boomers sit at 24.0 per cent and the Silent Generation and older represent only 7.2 per cent. This change has triggered growing discussion online and in traditional media, as social media influencers and analysts highlight the shifting balance of electoral influence.
Age-Based Breakdown Offers a Different Picture
When analysing the electorate by static age ranges rather than generational labels, a different pattern emerges, revealing that voters aged under 35 now account for 25.8 per cent of the vote, which is a decline from 27.5 per cent in 2007. Meanwhile, the share of voters aged 55 and over has increased from 36.3 per cent in 2007 to 40.5 per cent today, indicating that older Australians continue to consolidate their electoral leverage over time as the population ages.
Middle-Aged Voting Power Shrinks
The demographic aged 35 to 54, which once held 36.9 per cent of the vote in 2007, now accounts for just 33.8 per cent, showing a gradual decline in influence among middle-aged Australians. These changes in age distribution reflect the ongoing ageing of the electorate and the maturing of generations once considered young, reshaping not only who votes but also the issues that dominate political agendas.
Voting Trends Shift with Age
Data from Newspoll highlights how political preferences evolve with age, showing that voters aged 18 to 34, made up of both younger Gen Y and Gen Z, give Labor and the Greens 61 per cent of their combined first preference votes. Among voters aged 35 to 49, made up largely of older Gen Y and younger Gen X, that support drops to 49 per cent, while in the 50 to 64 age group, where older Gen X and younger Baby Boomers dominate, the Coalition and One Nation together receive 49 per cent of first preference votes.
Generational Labels Blur Over Time
With the eldest members of Gen Y now turning 45, Gen Z reaching age 28, and Gen X moving into their early 60s, the clear lines between generational labels begin to blur, as people typically described as young now reach middle age. Although Gen Y and Z appear to gain strength through numbers, their collective influence depends not only on enrolment but also on turnout and engagement at the polls, which historically favours older demographics.
Contrasting Realities at Play
These trends point to two simultaneous realities: generationally, Gen Y and Z now outnumber Baby Boomers for the first time in electoral history, but from an age-based perspective, voters under 35 are losing their share of electoral influence, while voters aged 55 and above are gaining strength with each election cycle. This duality challenges assumptions about youth power at the polls and underscores the continuing rise of older Australians’ influence in determining national outcomes.
Looking Ahead in a Changing Landscape
As Australia’s population continues to age and voter turnout remains higher among older citizens, political strategies will increasingly target those with the most consistent electoral participation. The growing weight of the older demographic combined with the declining presence of younger voters underlines the importance of understanding both generational identity and fixed age structures in forecasting electoral outcomes and policy directions in future elections.
