After all, the youngest voters are also the biggest liars in elections.
Nearly half of Gen Z voters, and one in four voters overall, have told a close friend or family member about their vote, according to a new Axios poll by Harris Poll (which is not affiliated with Harris’ vice presidential campaign). He admits that he lied. . For young voters, the pressure to avoid awkward conversations, judgment, and drama can lead them to lie about their voting preferences or remain silent altogether.
It’s especially prevalent among Gen Z (48%), followed by Millennials at 38%. In contrast, just 6% of boomers admit to having lied about their vote, showing how this sentiment skews younger generations.
Gen Z voters spent their formative years during a time of intense polarization, so it’s not at all surprising that they’re unwilling to rock the boat.
“There’s a new privacy emerging here, and it’s much more convenient to lie or not talk about it,” said John Gerzema, CEO of the Harris Poll. “The new social etiquette is to be like Switzerland. Why do you want that heat?”
It doesn’t help that political rifts in the personal sphere are intense. Roughly one-third of all voters say they have become estranged from their families because of political differences, and one in four young people have cut off all contact with family members because of political differences. The answer is yes.
This makes it difficult to predict what next week will bring. Poll data depends on honest answers, but how can pollsters expect the real story if people aren’t even honest with their families? And 40% of voters say they make last-minute decisions. No one knows how things will turn out on election day.
