What is driving older voters to the polls?

Dana Marie Kennedy, Director for AARP Arizona, and Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer at AARP, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss a recent AARP survey about what is driving 50+ voters to the polls.

“There’s been an uptick in the number of younger voters who say they are going to go to the polls since Vice President Harris entered the race,” LeaMond said. But at the same time, there has been an uptick in the number of older voters who say they are going to go.”

Several past elections have been decided by voters over the age of 50. In 2020 and 2022, they made up 55% and 65% of the electorate, respectively. Battleground state polls today show older voters are more motivated than younger voters.

“They are not feeling really confident in the economy right now,” Kennedy said. “I think that’s especially true with women voters, so they feel extremely insecure about where the economy is headed.”

According to the polls, voters’ top issues are immigration and border security, inflation and rising prices, the economy, reproductive issues, and threats to democracy.

“Also in our polling, when you get below the top two or three issues, living independently in your home is another very high priority,” LeaMond said.

LeaMond explained that in past elections, older voters were the ones who voted early in their respective states.

“The majority are going to vote early,” Kennedy said. “If you ask them ten out of ten if they are going to vote, 93% are actually going to vote with enthusiasm. So they are really excited to go vote.”