Gen Z Drives Record Surge in First-Time Voters in India’s 2026 Assembly Election

The 2026 Assembly elections across Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal highlight the growing electoral influence of Gen Z and young voters.In Assam, citizens aged 18–39 form the largest voting bloc, with over 1.28 crore voters. West Bengal recorded around 1.37 crore voters aged 18–29, including more than 5.23 lakh first-time voters. In Tamil Nadu, Gen Z accounts for nearly 19% of the electorate (about 1.04 crore voters), contributing to the emerging “2G factor”—Gender and Generation.Meanwhile, Kerala added over 96,000 first-time voters, alongside targeted youth outreach initiatives, while Puducherry saw one of its highest turnouts, with approximately 2.1 lakh young voters participating.