In the general elections of 2026the young vote will not be a simple statistical data, but a key factor that could determine the outcome. According to information from Preliminary electoral register of ReniecOf the 27.4 million Peruvian voters, 6.7 million are between 18 and 29 years old, representing the 24% of voters.
It is important to note that more than 2.5 million of them will vote for the first time, representing one of the largest age groups and at the same time, according to the Date study on the profile of young votersone of the most difficult respondents to mobilize politically: 6 out of 10 say they have little or no interest in politics and at the same time consider themselves to be little or not at all informed.
However, this apparent lack of interest does not mean distancing oneself from reality, but simply that Generation Z consumes information about national reality in a different way. Date indicates that the 73% of them get information via social networkscompared to 50% on television and 9% on radio. This age group’s trust in traditional media remains high, even though their first exposure to information occurs on small screens and continuous scrolling.
The challenge for the candidates is great: adapting to a generation that relies more on its network of contacts than on institutional discourse. Accordingly Arellano Consulting76% of young people acknowledge that the opinions of their family and friends are their main influence when voting, followed by their own research and the social networks. This explains why a message is received for the Z WhatsApp, TikTok or Instagram chats can be more convincing than a mass rally.
Added to this are the challenges of a very short election campaign (just over four months) and an incredibly long electoral list that forces candidates to work until the last day, especially considering that one in three young people decide their choice in the last week, often choosing the candidate with the least opposition rather than the one with the greatest ideological affinity.
It should be noted that more than half (55%) of this generation identifies as center (date) and although 66% believe their voice can improve the country (Arellano Consulting), that enthusiasm does not always lead to a deeply considered decision.
Beyond this alleged idealism, centenary voters’ expectations are concrete: 77% want corresponding conditions create more employment and entrepreneurship; 53% demand respect for democracy; and 26% expect proposals on LGBTBIQ+ rights, sexual education and access to abortion (Arellano Consulting). There are themes for campaigns here, but it is important to understand that the Zs know how to distinguish between the core message and the behavior so that they can spot any sign of opportunism.
With this panorama the value of the digital front in these elections is reaffirmed Digital News Report 2025 from Reuters Institute confirms that Peru has one of the most intense digital audiences in the world: 64% of Peruvians use social networks for this purpose informa high percentage compared to international standards.
Additionally, Facebook (52%)YouTube (34%) and TikTok (33%, highest in Latin America) They are the main information platforms, with the peculiarity that the growth of TikTok (+6 points in a year) makes it an important showcase to engage with young voters.
Eight months before the election (first round) there are no clear preferences. However, Ipsos announced in July 2025 that in the 18-25 year old segment, party preferences were led by Fuerza Popular, albeit narrowly at 7%, followed by Acción Popular at 5% and four groups tied at 4%. The remaining 65% are divided into “Other”, “White/incorrect” and “Not necessary”.
When interviewed by candidates, centenarians share their preferences as follows: Keiko Fujimori, 14%; Rafael Lopez Aliaga, 8%; and Carlos Alvarez, 4%. 56% have no defined option. In the 26- to 42-year-old group, the numbers are similar, while among those over 43, no candidate or party achieves more than 9% of preferences. In short, there is a lot of space to conquer.
With this panorama to influence the Generation ZCampaign commands must understand the codes of each platform, commit to short and visual formats, but above all generate Content that drives conversation in the personal environment in which we have seen that the vote is decided.
This means that in the 2026 elections, not only those who generate the most media appearances have more chances, but also those who manage to get their message past the algorithm, share it with friends and discuss it on social media. Family environments. The public square has shifted to the screens, especially the vertical ones, and that is where the real election campaign takes place.
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