Dunaway and Berge: Voting is good for your health

Voting is good for your health. In fact, in 2022, the American Medical Association stated that “voting is a social determinant of health,” meaning it is a non-medical factor that influences a person’s health status, just like other economic, environmental and social conditions. With the election just days away, each of us has a responsibility to promote this civic engagement, especially among groups of people whose voting rights have historically been disenfranchised and many of whom simultaneously experience poorer health outcomes.

In healthcare, we see every day how social determinants such as housing insecurity, poor education and environmental exposure impact patient health, and there is growing evidence that communities that vote have better health. The Health and Democracy Index looks at 12 public health indicators and finds that states with more inclusive voting policies and higher levels of civic engagement are healthier. One theory for this correlation is that those who feel disenfranchised politically also feel disenfranchised in other aspects of their lives, which is directly linked to poorer health outcomes.

We are fortunate that our state leaders have made Washington one of the most accessible states to vote. However, significant gaps remain when it comes to equal participation in elections. The Kaiser Family Foundation shows that in Washington, only 46 percent of Hispanics, 39 percent of Asians and 32 percent of Black eligible voters voted in the 2022 midterm elections, compared to 66 percent of eligible white voters. In the same election, the U.S. Census shows that nationally, 33 percent of people in households with annual incomes of $20,000 voted, compared with 67 percent of people in households with incomes of $100,000 or more.

Because voting plays a role in individual health and the health of our communities, it is important to encourage civic participation, especially for systemically marginalized communities. Health care providers, universities, associations, companies and government agencies can all contribute to reaching these eligible voters.