Wisconsin study links voting to longer life

An economist and a social psychologist have released a study showing that older Americans who vote have a lower risk of dying than those who do not. The researchers focused on adults aged 65 and older in Wisconsin, a state with high voter participation rates among seniors. They tested a hypothesis suggested by the American Medical Association in 2022, which noted that voting could potentially offer health benefits.

The study utilized data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a cohort of randomly selected high school graduates tracked since 1957. The authors compared the long-term health outcomes of individuals who voted in the 2008 presidential election with those who abstained. They used voting records from Catalist and mortality data from the National Death Index to verify participation and death dates.

Voters in the 2008 election were 45% less likely to die within five years of the vote. The survival advantage persisted over longer periods, with voters showing a 37% lower risk of death ten years later and a 29% lower risk fifteen years later. The researchers also analyzed data from the 2004 and 2012 presidential elections. They found that the association between voting and lower mortality was stronger for the more recent elections in 2008 and 2012 than for the 2004 election.

The authors controlled for variables that could confound the results, including gender, marital status, income, and prior health status. They also accounted for other civic activities, such as volunteering. Even after adjusting for these factors, voters maintained a lower risk of dying. The data indicated that individuals who were in poorer health before the 2008 election derived a greater benefit from voting over the subsequent 15 years compared to those who were initially healthier.

The method of voting did not influence the health outcome. The researchers found that older adults who voted in person had a similar risk reduction over 15 years as those who mailed their ballots. Political affiliation also did not alter the results. Voters who supported the winning candidate and those who supported the losing candidate experienced comparable long-term health benefits.

The study suggests that voting may function as an altruistically motivated act, similar to volunteering. Previous research has linked volunteering to a longer lifespan, reduced stress, and improved brain reward systems. The authors propose that voting may trigger similar positive biological responses. They also note that the act may foster a sense of self-efficacy, civic duty, and social connection, all of which are factors associated with better health outcomes.