Surprising study: The link between voting at the ballot box and longer life expectancy

A new study found a link between voting in U.S. elections and a lower risk of premature death: those who voted in 2008 had a 26% lower risk of dying by 2023, and in 2012 – a 32% lower risk. The researchers emphasize that this is a statistical correlation, not a causal one.

A new study published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B found a link between voting and a lower risk of premature death. The researchers examined voting data from the 2008 and 2012 U.S. presidential elections and compared it to health and mortality data of about 4,200 older adults in Wisconsin. The comparison showed that those who voted in 2008 had a 26% lower risk of dying by 2023, while among those who voted in 2012, the risk was 32% lower. Lead researcher Dr. Famida Hendi from the University of Pennsylvania explains that voting may strengthen feelings of belonging, meaning, and the ability to influence, but emphasizes that it is not a "magic pill." The study did not prove causality, and the researchers noted that those at lower risk tended to be younger, female, and have more financial and health resources. The headline promises a link to life expectancy, but the body describes a link to the risk of premature death.