What Will Bring Young Voters to the Polls in the 2026 Midterms

Rutgers political scientist Elizabeth Matto explains what motivates young adults to vote - and why their participation could make a difference in November

Young voters could play a crucial role in this year's midterm elections, when control of Congress is at stake.

Whether they turn out in November remains an open question. With several competitive races throughout the nation, their participation could make a difference, said Elizabeth Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics and acting director of the Center for Youth Political Participation at Rutgers University.

Matto explains what motivates young adults ages 18 to 29 to vote, what keeps them from the polls and why young voters don't all think alike.

Young voters get a lot of attention during presidential elections. How does their participation typically change during the midterms, and why?

Across all age groups, voter turnout rates tend to be lower for midterm elections compared to presidential elections, including among young adults. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement estimates that 23% of eligible 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the 2022 midterm election. It's worth noting that the highest recorded turnout for young adults in the midterms was 28% in 2018, the last midterm election that took place during President Trump's presidency.

What motivates young people to vote, and what are some of the biggest reasons they don't?

Academic research consistently shows that voter registration and Election Day laws and practices play a meaningful role in influencing young adults' likelihood of casting their ballot.

It is in states that facilitate voter registration and voting through such practices as automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, early voting, and robust mail-in ballot systems where young adults turn out in higher numbers. Another important factor in encouraging youth voting is mobilization - candidates, campaigns and organizations reaching out to young adults and encouraging them to vote.

Young adults don't have a voting history, tend to move frequently and are busy with their education and building careers. The more support that is provided, the more likely young adults are to cast a vote on Election Day.

We often hear about "the youth vote" as if young voters all think alike. How different are their political views and priorities?

It's worth remembering that there are a lot of young adults in today's electorate - over 40 million. Naturally, there is great variety in background, lived experiences and priorities. Recent survey data indicate that although most identify with a political party, 43% identify with neither party and the majority believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Like older voters, young voters care about the economy, housing and health care - and, just like older voters, have diverse views on how best to address these issues.

In short, there isn't necessarily a unique agenda for young adults. They care about the same issues but need candidates to consider these issues from their perspective and to include their voices in the political conversation.

How are social media, influencers and AI-generated content changing the way young voters get political information? Does that affect whether they vote?

To be sure, acquiring reliable and nonpartisan voting information can be a challenge for all voters - not just young adults. As "digital natives," young adults actually are quite adept at discerning content that is authentic and content that is unreliable.

Still, it's critical for all voters to feel confident about the election process and incumbent upon everyone - especially those in political power - to share evidence-based and truthful information about elections to instill confidence in the legitimacy of our democratic process.

Looking ahead to November, what are you seeing among young voters this year? What might their participation tell us about the 2026 midterms?

Young adults care about politics and see how political decisions made by those in office affect their everyday lives. We see this in the attention they pay to politics and the many ways in which they are using their political voice. Young adults also are becoming discontent with American democracy - losing trust in its institutions and not feeling as if their generation is being represented.

The youth vote in 2026 will hinge on a variety of factors including states' registration and voting practices, how clearly voting information is shared with voters and how reliable the sources are and the extent to which campaigns and organizations encourage and assist young adults get to the polls.

There will be a number of close elections across the country in which youth turnout could be determinative of the outcome. Every vote counts, and I hope young adults will exercise their power on Election Day by voting.