Gen Z and Millennials outnumber Baby Boomers at upcoming federal election

Millions of Gen Z and Millennials are expected to dominate ballot boxes at the upcoming federal election, outnumbering Baby Boomers for the first time.

Gen Z and Millennial voters will outnumber Baby Boomers for the first time at the upcoming federal election, new data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows.

The two younger generations make up more than 7.7 million votes compared to about 5.8 million Baby Boomers, according to AEC data.

AEC spokesman Evan Ekin-Smyth said almost 700,000 more people will be voting for the first time in 2025, with most new voters being young Australians.

Almost 700,000 more people will be voting for the first time in the 2025 federal election. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

“This federal election will likely have the most complete electoral roll for any Australian

federal election since federation, with around 18 million people enrolled at approximately 98 per cent,” the AEC reported online.

It is believed to be the first federal election where Gen Z and Millennial votes outnumber older Baby Boomers, according to Nine.

Those young voters are leaning towards the Greens and Labor, according to Resolve Strategic founder Jim Reed.

“The parties are sort of becoming less the major parties, at least becoming less differentiated, and voters, particularly young voters, are becoming less tribal, less loyal to parties,” he said.

Mr Reed said a gender divide in voter preferences was also evident, with 34 per cent of women intending to vote for the Coalition, compared to 42 per cent of men.

Young voters are more likely to lean towards the Greens and Labor in the upcoming federal election, experts say. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

“We see that gap reflected in the younger age group as well, and there is a variety of reasons for that … it can be the policy and the tone of the communications on policy,” he said.

A recent Resolve poll showed the Coalition leading first-preference votes at 39 per cent, with Labor trailing at 25 per cent.

Peter Dutton is winning the race as preferred prime minister at 39 per cent, with Anthony Albanese at 35 per cent, according to the poll.

“Labor has sort of sat in the middle with being attacked by either side, the Greens on the left and the Coalition on right,” Mr Reed told Nine.

Voting in the upcoming federal election, which is set to take place sometime before May 17, is compulsory for all Australians aged 18 years or older.

As of January 23, almost 18 million Australians were enrolled to vote, with 97.8 per cent of the estimated proportion of eligible Australians enrolled, according to the AEC.

There were almost 400,000 eligible Australians who had not enrolled at the time.

Originally published as Gen Z and Millennials outnumber Baby Boomers at upcoming federal election