Older Voters Could Decide Key Races: 3 Essential Things to Know

Older voters could decide one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. A new AARP poll released September 28 found that 83% of North Carolina voters 50+ rate their motivation to vote a perfect 10. Only 66% of younger voters said the same. The findings reveal the issues that matter most to adults over 50, and why your vote carries real weight this November.

Why Older Voters Matter So Much in 2026

Voters 50 and older show up. In North Carolina’s 2026 primary, voters 66 and older made up 35% of everyone who cast a ballot.

That kind of turnout gives older Americans outsized influence in close races. It also means candidates of both parties have strong reasons to listen to your concerns on Social Security, Medicare, and the cost of living.

North Carolina is the seventh state in AARP’s 2026 battleground polling series, following Alaska, Texas, Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, and Georgia.

The same pattern shows up nationwide. Adults over 50 vote at higher rates than any other age group, and they are more likely to follow local races closely. That gives this age group a strong say in decisions about benefits, health care, and housing.

Key Facts: What Older Voters Care About

According to the AARP poll, affordability is the top issue for voters 50+. Threats to democracy ranked second, then Social Security and Medicare.

• Social Security: 83% call it an important voting issue.
• Medicare: 77% say it matters to their vote, and 84% favor expanding drug price negotiation.
• Housing: 74% support allowing more accessory dwelling units (ADUs), small backyard or attached homes.
• Utility bills: 80% say new data centers’ power costs should not be passed on to households.

The race itself is close among older voters. The bipartisan poll surveyed 1,115 likely voters from September 17 to 20, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 points.

What This Means for You as a Voter

Wherever you live, these same issues are on the ballot in many states. Here is how to make your vote count.

How Can You Make a Simple Voting Plan?

Check your registration, confirm your polling place, and decide whether to vote early, by mail, or on Election Day. Our guide to mail-in voting access for the 2026 midterms explains your options.

What Questions Should You Ask Candidates?

Ask how they would keep Social Security solvent, lower drug costs, and keep utility bills in check. Specific answers matter more than slogans. Local races for utility boards and city councils often shape power bills and housing rules, too.

Nonpartisan voter guides from your state election office or local League of Women Voters chapter can help you compare positions side by side.

Why Do Housing Issues Like ADUs Affect You?

ADUs can let you age in place, house a caregiver, or live near family. Local zoning decides whether you can build one. As we noted in why most boomers are skipping the big downsize, housing choices after 50 are shifting fast.

Looking Forward: Your Voice Carries Weight

Election Day is about five weeks away. Older voters have the numbers and the motivation to shape outcomes on the issues that affect retirement security most.

Learn where candidates stand, make your plan, and help a friend or neighbor do the same. For more on the money side, see our guide to rising winter heating bills.