Voting May Extend Lifespan, New Study on Older Adults Reveals

A new study co-authored by Femida Handy of the School of Social Policy & Practice finds that, among older adults, voting predicts a lower risk of mortality for up to 15 years.

Many studies have shown that other types of civic engagement, such as volunteering, are associated with health outcomes like lower rates of cardiovascular disease and better mental health, explains Handy. But none have looked at the specific impact of voting-arguably an altruistic act, as voters know their one vote will not change the outcome of a national election-on health.

In the study, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Studies, Handy and her co-author, Sara Konrath of Indiana University, tracked older adults who voted in the 2008 presidential election and those who did not and examined participants' risk of dying over the next five, 10, and 15 years.

The researchers find that older adults who voted experienced a significantly reduced mortality risk, with those in poorer health benefiting more from voting 15 years later. These results are not explained by participants' prior wealth, education, civic engagement, or political affiliation, says Handy. And even when their candidate lose, voters still have a lower risk of dying years later.

"We were surprised to find that people who voted either in person or remotely experienced these benefits. This suggests that voting itself is more important than the method of voting or even who they voted for," says Handy. "The potential long-lasting benefits of voting as individuals age make this information crucial for promoting voter turnout, in line with the American Medical Association recommendations."

Femida Handy is a professor in the School of Social Policy & Practice.

Sara Konrath is an associate professor at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.