Survey reflects concerns older North Dakota voters will bring to elections

As election season ramps up, I expected to be feeling the divisions among us more than I am. Instead, through my role as the volunteer state president for AARP ND, I’m finding more common ground than I expected when it comes to the issues important to me and other voters over age 50. 

Did you know that one-third of North Dakotans are age 50 and older? Across the United States, that group numbers 119 million. We are a powerful force at the ballot box, as shown by the fact that we made up over 50% of the eligible voters in each of the last two North Dakota elections. A recent survey by AARP verified that the concerns I have as an older voter, are concerns shared by my peers. 

In 2023, AARP conducted Vital Voices, a survey of 703 people over age 45 in North Dakota, asking them how they feel about issues such as health care, financial security, energy costs, caregiving, community, and more. North Dakota survey participants provided three primary takeaways:

1. They are thinking, and worrying, about retirement.

• Nine in 10 feel having enough income or savings to retire is extremely or very important, and 65% are concerned they won’t have enough savings and income to retire. 
• 87% say having adequate Social Security benefits is important – that’s a 4% increase since 2020.

2. Affordable health care is important to them.

• 91% of survey participants said adequate health insurance is important to them.
• The importance of being able to afford health care expenses (89%) and being able to pay for prescription drugs (83%) have both increased by 8% since 2020.

3. They want to age in place, independently.

• 79% want to have services available to age in place.
• 78% want to stay in their home as they age.
• Seven in 10 prefer to receive care for themselves or a loved one at home. 

Those are the worries this enormous group of older voters will bring to the ballot box in the June primary and then again in November. As one of these voters, my experience caring for my late husband, paying the bills from his illness, and protecting my hard-earned Social Security will influence my voting decisions in the months to come. 

As the survey proves, I’m far from alone in caring about these issues. When I talk to people about things like protecting Social Security and being able to age in our own homes, I find we agree. And, in a highly divisive political season, this agreement feels important. 

AARP North Dakota and volunteers like me will keep these issues front and center this election season. We’ll be sponsoring debates with local, state, and federal candidates, providing insights, and sharing information that will ensure you know when, where, and the methods available to cast your ballot.

I know that together, we can make progress on the aging concerns we share. You can help by asking candidates where they stand on these issues and using your vote to ensure that we can all thrive as we age in North Dakota.

Learn more at aarp.org/ND.