Still surprised by the recent election results? Move over titos and titas of Philippine politics — the kids (and kidults) are taking over the barangay.
According to recent data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), millennials and Gen Z now make up a staggering 60.5 percent of the voting population, or 41.4 million of the 68.4 million registered voters for the last midterm elections.
That’s more than half the electorate, and just slightly less than the number of unsolicited financial advice posts they share on Instagram. Back in 2022, they were only 56 percent, but now they’re flexing their democratic muscles — and maybe, just maybe, getting ready to ghost the old guard politicians for good.
Let’s break this down: millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996 — are now 29 to 44 years old and make up over 23 million of the electorate. They’re old enough to remember Friendster, young enough to still believe in online petitions, and jaded enough to know that not all campaign jingles lead to good governance.
Meanwhile, Gen Z, those wide-eyed 18 to 28-year-olds (with TikTok filters and a passion for clapbacks), number over 18.3 million. Together, they represent a demographic tsunami poised to drown out recycled surnames and recycled platforms.
So, what does this mean for future elections? For starters, candidates may want to start brushing up on their meme game. Gone are the days when showing up at fiestas and kissing babies was enough.
Today’s voters want receipts — of your track record, not your groceries. They want leaders who can speak their language, or at least know that “ghosting” isn’t something only Marcos Jr. does with campaign promises. If your idea of innovation is printing tarpaulins in Comic Sans, you might as well pack up your political dreams and run for homeowners association president instead.
The youth vote is also notoriously hard to pin down. They’re passionate, skeptical, and allergic to BS. They grew up with Google in their pockets and aren’t afraid to fact-check your claims in real time. Try to slip in a half-baked promise and you’ll be trending by lunchtime — for all the wrong reasons.
And unlike the older generation who sometimes vote based on family loyalty or free lugaw, these young voters tend to lean toward issues: mental health, climate change, education, internet speed (yes, that too), and corruption.
Still, there’s a catch: numbers don’t always translate to influence. Historically, the youth have been more “woke” than “walk” to the precinct. Voter turnout among young people has been lower than it should be, thanks to apathy, cynicism, or the irresistible lure of Sunday brunch.
If Gen Z and millennials want to truly swing the vote, they need to show up — not just online with witty political commentary, but to actual polling booths.
In short, the 2025 elections might be the coming-of-age party for a new generation of voters.
Will they swipe left on trapos and political dynasties? Will they finally choose leaders who can spell “digital transformation” without looking at their notes?
The future is in their hands — scrolling, tapping, and maybe, just maybe, shading the right ovals.
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