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# The Generational Voting Divide
- URL: https://goodoil.news/the-generational-voting-divide/
- Published: 2020-07-24T21:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-07-24T04:25:06.000Z
- Author: Lindsay Mitchell
- Tags: Election 2020, NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 03:00

**Lindsay Mitchell**  
[lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com](https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-generational-voting-divide.html?ref=goodoil.news)

Ten days ago I wrote a post entitled [“The Young Don’t Vote”](https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-young-dont-vote.html?ref=goodoil.news)  
Here are the latest [enrollment stats](https://elections.nz/stats-and-research/enrolment-statistics/enrolment-by-general-electorate/?ref=goodoil.news):

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/-2Tx-ErDk1ng/XxnxO9Dgs1I/AAAAAAAAHp0/D8pfpc-CIRUBgiRZogzR8_nyvOLGtMVlwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h215/enrolled-2bto-2bvote-2bat-2bjune-2b9-2b2020.png)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Tx-ErDk1ng/XxnxO9Dgs1I/AAAAAAAAHp0/D8pfpc-CIRUBgiRZogzR8%5FnyvOLGtMVlwCLcBGAsYHQ/s808/Enrolled%2Bto%2Bvote%2Bat%2BJune%2B9%2B2020.png?ref=goodoil.news)

The BFD Source:[https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-generational-voting-divide.html](https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-generational-voting-divide.html?ref=goodoil.news)

And here are the actual [voting percentages ](https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2017-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics-for-the-2017-general-election/?ref=goodoil.news)in 2017:

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/-VJT-8A2aX0A/XxnxoT9VqVI/AAAAAAAAHp8/eJ7hYKXg9tQAICvw7IFo0pQnQzxPjXEwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h210/enrolled-2bto-2bvote-2band-2bparticipating-2b2017.png)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJT-8A2aX0A/XxnxoT9VqVI/AAAAAAAAHp8/eJ7hYKXg9tQAICvw7IFo0pQnQzxPjXEwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s857/Enrolled%2Bto%2Bvote%2Band%2Bparticipating%2B2017.png?ref=goodoil.news)

The BFD Source: [https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-generational-voting-divide.html](https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-generational-voting-divide.html?ref=goodoil.news)

In raw numbers, there are an estimated 450,500 18-24 year-olds with 277,151 or 61.5% enrolled at June 9\. The figure will increase but in 2017 the final enrollment number was 333,164 and 69.3% of them voted.

It is safe to say only between 4 and 5 out of all 18-24 year-olds vote.  
For comparison, 96% of voters aged 55 or older enrol and they turnout in the mid to high 80% range.

Chris Trotter is [worried ](http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2020/07/in-2020-as-in-1984-young-and-old-may.html?ref=goodoil.news)about this. He writes:

> If voters aged between 18 and 25 registered and voted in anything like the same numbers as the centre-left’s core vote, Labour would long ago have become New Zealand’s “natural party of government.

Pie in the sky. It is the young’s prerogative to not vote if that’s their inclination. I took no particular interest until I became a mother. People become increasingly involved as they age and are more invested, stable and life-experienced.

He is worried this divide opens the door for Collins. As my post suggested, I agree, but happily. And for those voting youth who are averse to National’s new leadership team but not left-inclined, ACT fills the void. Collins v Ardern contrasted neatly by Seymour v Peters.

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