The Young Voters Could Decide Canada’s Future.
Canada’s federal election on April 28, 2025, is fast approaching, and young voters—Gen Z and Millennials—hold unprecedented power.
For the first time, they outnumber Baby Boomers among eligible voters, according to Statistics Canada.
Yet, history shows they’re far less likely to show up than older generations.
In 2021, just 46.7% of 18-to-24-year-olds voted—the lowest of any age group—down from 53.9% in 2019 and 57.1% in 2015.
Why are young Canadians tuning out?
From lack of awareness to uninspiring campaigns, this deep dive explores the barriers keeping youth from the polls—and why their absence could reshape the election’s outcome.
Table of Contents
The Stakes: Youth as the New Electoral Powerhouse
Imagine an election where the deciding votes come from TikTok users and university dorms.
It’s not a fantasy—Gen Z and Millennials now form the electoral majority, a shift confirmed by Statistics Canada since 2021.
Experts say their turnout could swing tight races in Canada’s 343 ridings.
But data paints a grim picture: young voters consistently lag behind.
In 2021, only 46.7% of 18-to-24-year-olds cast ballots, compared to 74.9% of 65-to-74-year-olds, per Elections Canada.
That gap—nearly 30 points—hints at a democracy skewed toward older voices.
If youth don’t vote, issues like affordability, climate change, and mental health could take a backseat.
So, what’s holding them back?
Barrier #1: Awareness Gap Leaves Youth in the Dark
At Ottawa’s Carleton University, students reveal a stark truth: many don’t even know an election’s coming.
Catherine O’Hall, a newly eligible voter, shrugs off politics entirely.
“I’m just not interested—there’s too much going on, too many sides,” she stated.
Her friend Jade John agrees, citing time as her hurdle.
“You have to dig for info, and I don’t have time to search,” she said.
Georgia Westwoods, who missed Ontario’s recent provincial vote, admits, “I had no clue it was happening—I saw nothing about it.”
This isn’t apathy—it’s an information blackout.
Unlike older generations, who catch election buzz on TV or radio, youth rely on social media.
If it’s not trending on Instagram or TikTok, it might as well not exist.
“We don’t watch news,” John explains.
“If it’s not online, we don’t know.”
The result?
A generation left out of the loop unless campaigns meet them where they scroll.
Barrier #2: Campaigns Miss the Mark with Youth
Political parties have dipped into social media—think leaders posting on X or TikTok—but young voters say it’s not enough.
O’Hall sees party statements online but keeps scrolling.
“It’s not eye-catching—I wouldn’t stop to watch,” she says.
Westwoods feels ignored by candidates.
“They don’t look toward us. It’s hard to know where we stand,” she notes.
John doubles down: “We’re not aware unless it’s on social media—and even then, it has to grab us.”
The problem?
Generic ads don’t cut it for a generation raised on viral content.
Westwoods has a fix: “Hire Gen Z interns to craft messages that hit right.”
Experts agree—tailored, relatable outreach could bridge the gap.
Without it, youth see politics as distant, irrelevant, and—worst of all—boring.
Barrier #3: Disconnection Fuels Disengagement
Beyond logistics, there’s a deeper disconnect.
Westwoods captures it: “My age group doesn’t know a lot, and candidates don’t seem to care about us.”
O’Hall’s friends echo this, often dismissing voting as pointless amid conflicting party claims.
“They don’t know what’s true or false, so they care less,” she says.
This isn’t cynicism—it’s confusion and exclusion.
When politics feels like a game for older, informed insiders, youth opt out.
Elections Canada’s 2021 data backs this up: turnout among 18-to-24-year-olds dropped 7.2 points from 2019, far steeper than the overall 4.4-point dip.
Compare that to 2015’s 57.1% youth turnout—a high sparked by Trudeau’s youth-friendly campaign.
Without a similar hook in 2025, the downward trend could worsen.
Debunking the Apathy Myth: It’s Barriers, Not Laziness
Lazy. Apathetic. Disinterested.
These labels stick to young non-voters—but advocates say they’re wrong.
Amanda Munday, executive director of New Majority, a non-profit boosting youth turnout, insists it’s a misconception.
“Youth aren’t unwilling—they’re passionate about issues like affordability and climate,” she stated.
“The problem is barriers: access and information.”
New Majority’s summer survey of 10,000+ campus students found just 4% unwilling to vote.
Over half, though, didn’t know an election was near.
“Not every household talks voting,” Munday explains.
“People assume everyone knows how it works—but they don’t.”
Her group’s mission?
Educate and engage, showing youth their vote can shape the issues they care about most.
What Youth Want: Issues That Hit Home
So, what drives young voters when they do engage?
New Majority pinpoints affordability, mental health, climate change, and—lately—Canadian sovereignty as top concerns.
These aren’t abstract—they’re personal.
Rent hikes, therapy waitlists, and wildfire summers hit Gen Z and Millennials hardest.
Yet, many don’t connect these struggles to the ballot box.
“We explain they can make a difference,” Munday says.
“Their vote decides who tackles these problems.”
Take climate: youth marched globally in 2019, but that energy didn’t always translate to votes in 2021.
Affordability, meanwhile, spikes as housing costs soar—StatsCan reports median rent jumped 9.3% from 2021 to 2024.
If parties tie these dots in 2025, turnout could surge.
The Numbers: A Declining Trend Spells Trouble
Let’s crunch the data.
Elections Canada tracks voter turnout by age, and youth stats are stark:
2015: 57.1% (18-24) – a peak driven by youth-focused campaigns.
2019: 53.9% – a slight dip, but still solid.
2021: 46.7% – a 7.2-point plunge, the biggest drop across age groups.
Overall turnout fell too—from 68.3% in 2015 to 62.2% in 2021—but youth led the slide.
Older voters?
Steady at 74.9% (65-74) in 2021.
This gap isn’t new—pre-1990s turnout hovered above 70%, but generational shifts have dragged it down.
If 2025 follows suit, youth could hit a new low, handing the election to older demographics by default.
How to Fix It: Strategies to Boost Youth Turnout
The good news?
Solutions exist.
Here’s what could turn the tide:
Meet Them Online: Flood TikTok, Instagram, and X with short, punchy content—think 15-second explainers on voting or candidate stances.
Hire young creators to make it stick.
Simplify the Process: Elections Canada’s mail-in and advance voting options (April 18-21) help, but youth need step-by-step guides—think “Voting 101” reels.
Hit Their Issues: Frame platforms around affordability (e.g., rent caps), mental health (free counseling), and climate (green jobs).
Make it personal, not preachy.
Campus Push: New Majority’s on-campus drives work—expand them.
In 2015, 71 university polling stations spiked youth votes. Bring that back.
Peer Power: Peer-to-peer nudges lift turnout by 10%, per studies.
Encourage youth to drag friends to the polls.
Munday’s team is already on it, targeting 18-to-35-year-olds with issue-driven outreach.
“They’re the decision-makers if they show up,” she says.
What’s at Risk: A Democracy Out of Balance
If youth skip 2025, the consequences ripple.
Older voters, with higher turnout, lean conservative—think housing stability over climate action.
Youth priorities—rental relief, green policies—could stall.
Tight ridings, especially in urban hubs like Ottawa or Toronto, might flip without their input.
“They’re the electoral majority now,” Munday warns.
“But without voting habits, their power’s untapped.”
Historically, low turnout fueled generational replacement—new voters don’t match old ones’ consistency.
If that holds, Canada’s democracy tilts older, sidelining a generation already stretched thin.
Will Youth Rise or Retreat?
Canada’s 2025 election hinges on a wild card: young voters.
They’ve got the numbers to tip the scales, but awareness, access, and engagement stand in the way.
From Carleton’s disengaged students to New Majority’s hopeful push, the story’s clear—youth aren’t apathetic, just underserved.
Parties can change that with smart, youth-centric campaigns.
Will they?
Or will Gen Z and Millennials stay home, handing the future to those who show up?
Check your voter status at elections.ca—your move could decide it all.
Stay updated with CTC News.
