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Voting Cuts Senior Mortality 45% Over Five Years

4/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Older adults who voted in 2008 were 45% less likely to die within five years than nonvoters.
They were 37% less likely to die within ten years and 29% less likely within fifteen.
Researchers linked Catalist voting records to National Death Index data for Wisconsin high-school graduates aged 65+.
The mortality gap persisted after adjusting for gender, marital status, income, health and volunteering, remaining similar for mail and in-person voting.

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Story summary

Older adults who voted in 2008 were 45% less likely to die within five years than nonvoters.
They were 37% less likely to die within ten years and 29% less likely within fifteen.
Researchers linked Catalist voting records to National Death Index data for Wisconsin high-school graduates aged 65+.
The mortality gap persisted after adjusting for gender, marital status, income, health and volunteering, remaining similar for mail and in-person voting.