Cost of living, healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights have emerged as the leading concerns for queer voters, while the Green Party has taken the top spot for the party vote in YOUR EX’s latest reader poll.
The survey found that 31.4% of respondents currently plan to give their party vote to the Greens at the 2026 General Election.
Labour ranked second on 25.7%, followed by National with 19%. The Opportunities Party also performed strongly, receiving 10.5% support, while New Zealand First attracted 8.6%.
ACT recorded 2.9%, and Te Pāti Māori received 1.9%.
Together, Labour and the Greens accounted for 57.1% of intended party votes among respondents. National, ACT and New Zealand First collectively received 30.5%.
Labour Leads the Electorate Vote
Although the Greens topped the party vote, Labour was the clear first choice when readers were asked which party would receive their electorate vote.
Labour attracted 35.2% of respondents, followed by National on 24.8% and the Greens on 23.8%.
The Opportunities Party received 5.7%, while New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori each recorded 3.8%. ACT attracted 2.9%.
The difference between the party and electorate results suggests some YOUR EX readers are considering splitting their votes, with Green supporters appearing particularly likely to give their party vote to the Greens while supporting a Labour candidate in their local electorate.
Cost of Living Remains the Top Concern
Despite the poll’s focus on LGBTQ+ voters, cost of living was the issue identified by the largest share of respondents.
More than three-quarters — 76.2% — selected cost of living as one of the issues that mattered most to them.
Health ranked second on 68.6%, followed by LGBTQ+ rights on 59%. The economy was chosen by 56.2%, the environment by 51.4%, and human rights by 41.9%.
Transport and policing appeared further down the list, selected by 23.8% and 22.9% respectively.
Defence was chosen by 10.5%, foreign affairs by 9.5%, and other issues by 7.6%.
The results suggest queer voters are weighing concerns specific to Rainbow communities alongside the same economic and public-service pressures affecting the wider population.
LGBTQ+ rights remain a major priority, but they sit alongside household finances, access to healthcare, environmental concerns and broader economic security.
Signs of a Shift Towards the Greens
Respondents were also asked how they voted at the 2023 General Election.
Among the responses, Labour was the most frequently named party, followed by the Greens and National.
Current voting intentions, by comparison, show the Greens acquiring more voters from Labour when it comes to the party vote.
This survey was completed by 8,121 YOUR EX readers. Participation was voluntary and self-selected. The findings reflect the views of respondents only.
The findings point to a community whose support remains firmly in play ahead of the 2026 election.
Rainbow rights continue to matter, but economic pressure, healthcare, the environment and confidence in public services may be just as important in determining where queer voters ultimately place their support.
