Understanding the Gen Z Independent Voter: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT While a growing amount of research is emerging on the voting patterns and attitudes of Generation Z (Gen Z) voters in general, little attention has been given to independent Gen Z voters. To better understand these independent Gen Z voters, we surveyed 1315 registered voters in Arizona between 20 and 30 years old. We explored how Gen Z voters differ from their partisan counterparts in their attitudes toward politics, barriers to voting, and their motivation to vote in the 2024 election. We found that Gen Z voters are decidedly more independent and Latino than their party‐affiliated counterparts and have significantly lower voting participation. Gen Z independents aligned with Democrats on several issues of concern and Republicans on others. They overwhelmingly felt that the two major parties are not working in the best interest of the country, and over two‐thirds feel that the current political system is not working for their generation. Related Articles Fisher, P. 2020. “Generational Replacement and the Impending Transformation of the American Electorate.” Politics & Policy 48, no. 1: 38–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12340 . Fisher, P. 2024. “A Generation Divided: The politics of Generation X.” Politics & Policy 52, no. 5: 900–917. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12620 . Shaykhutdinov, R. 2019. “Socialization, Rationality, and Age: Generational Gaps and the Attitudes Toward the Chechen War in Russia.” Politics & Policy 47, no. 5: 931–955. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12323 .