Voting Linked to Longer Lifespan

A study conducted by Sara Konrath and Femida Handy, economists and social psychologists, found that older Americans who vote tend to live longer than those who do not. The research utilized data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, along with voting records from Catalist and death records from the United States — National Death Index. The study controlled for various demographic and health factors, indicating that the correlation between voting and longevity is not solely due to healthier individuals being more likely to vote. The findings suggest that civic engagement, similar to volunteering, may trigger positive biological responses that support well-being, though the exact mechanisms are still unknown.