She's the Difference: The Power of Older Women Voters

She’s the Difference is AARP’s ongoing research series exploring the priorities and concerns of women age 50 and over — a critical voting demographic.

• Women age 50-plus make up a large and increasing share of registered voters. As of 2020, there were 56 million women voters age 50 and over, nearly 27% of all registered voters —up from 25% in 2016 and 26% in 2018. Older men and younger women make up slightly smaller segments — 23% and 25%, respectively. 
  
  
• Women age 50-plus turn out at a high rate. While older women make up a quarter of the voting-age population, they cast 30% of all ballots in the 2020 election. More than eight in ten (83%) registered women voters in this age group turned out to vote. In 2018, these women were 15% more likely to vote than the population at large.
  
  
• Women age 50-plus are a key swing voting bloc. Women over 50 make up the biggest bloc of swing voters. The February 2022 Georgetown Institute of Politics Battleground Civility poll found that 32% of voters who are ticket splitters are women over 50.

Heading into the 2022 midterm elections, it is vitally important for elected leaders and political candidates to understand the needs and concerns of women age 50 and older.  

For more information, contact Rachelle Cummins of AARP Research at rcummins@aarp.org. Media inquiries should be directed to External Relations at media@aarp.org.

Research

About This Survey

In partnership with an all-star roster of public opinion experts from both sides of the aisle — Celinda Lake, Christine Matthews, Margie Omero and Kristen Soltis Anderson, AARP aims to explore — and explain — the mindset, attitudes, fears, and hopes of these women throughout this pivotal mid-term cycle.