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Young voters aged between 18 to 25 years can play an important role in the assembly elections to be held in the year 2026. Electoral mathematics, demographic data and emerging political trends in the states show that Gen Z is not just a spectator this time, but a force to change the outcome. The share of young voters in the elections of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry is so high that they can directly impact the power equation.

According to the Special Brief Review 2024 of the Election Commission of India, there are more than 96 crore registered voters in the country, of which a large number are people in the age group of 18-29 years. This age group has now become the center of political discussion. It is estimated that the population of Gen Z in the country is more than 37 crores, which has the power to change any electoral situation.

In the states where elections are to be held in 2026, the percentage of young voters is very high. There are more than 30% youth voters in Assam, around 27% in West Bengal, around 23% in Puducherry, 22% in Tamil Nadu and 20% in Kerala. This shows that if the youth are organized or emotionally mobilized on any issue, then traditional vote bank politics can be challenged.

Employment and inflation are big issues for young voters.

The biggest issues for young voters are employment and inflation. In a survey, more than 60 percent of the youth said lack of employment was their biggest concern. Instability in the job market after Covid-19 and the increasing number of informal jobs have further increased the resentment among the youth. This is the reason why political parties are now laying special emphasis on skill development, startup support and job creation in their manifestos.

The objective of the Central Government’s ‘PM-Setu’ scheme program is to modernize the industrial training institutes and equip the youth with new technical skills. Under this, it has been said to provide training in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Electric Vehicle and Semiconductor. However, analysts believe that the immediate electoral benefits of these long-term plans may be limited.

State wise election trend

State wise situation is different. The arrival of actor Vijay’s party in Tamil Nadu has created enthusiasm among the youth, which can challenge the traditional DMK-IADMK politics. In West Bengal, the issue of change in voter roll and infiltration has increased polarization, while the youth seem to be focusing more on issues like employment and migration. In Kerala, anti-incumbency tendencies and dissatisfaction with development projects are affecting the youth. At the same time, infrastructure development and peace agreements in Assam have brought a section of the youth in favor of the government.

Digital campaigns and social media narratives

Digital platforms are playing an important role in this election. Gen Z gets political information from social media rather than traditional media. Influencer campaigns, short videos and AI-generated content are influencing the opinions of the youth. Experts believe that parties based on digital narrative can gain an edge.

Gen Z is not a vote bank, it is a force for change.

Even at the global level, youth movements have accelerated political changes, which has had a psychological impact on the Indian youth. They no longer want to be limited to politics on the basis of caste or religion but are expecting economic and transparent governance. Political analysts believe that Gen Z is not a uniform vote bank. Their voting behavior will depend on state, local issues and trust in leadership. However, it is clear that the 2026 elections will be a test of the hopes of the youth. The party which presents the issues of employment, education, digital transparency and social justice in a credible manner can get the support of the youth.