In recent years, voting rights have been a topic of discussion and debate in the United States, with several cases presented to the Supreme Court. A new study conducted by Syracuse University researchers suggests that the issue goes beyond politics and has implications for public health. Sociology professor Jennifer Karas Montez led the study, which examines the connection between democratic erosion and increasing mortality rates. The study has been published online in The Milbank Quarterly.
Montez and her team have been investigating the high and rising mortality rates among working-age adults in the United States, a trend that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have pointed to factors such as labor policies and firearm regulations, but they haven’t provided a complete explanation. This led the team to explore the possible link between mortality rates and the weakening of democracy.
“Studies from other countries have shown that strong democracies prioritize education, provide economic opportunities for all, and make policy decisions that align with the preferences of their citizens,” says Montez. “This can result in lower rates of violent crime and higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Some surveys conducted in the U.S. suggest that even the perception of democratic erosion can lead to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and sleep problems.”
Democratic erosion can take various forms, including purging eligible voters from the rolls, restricting absentee voting, and manipulating congressional districts through partisan gerrymandering. Montez highlights North Carolina as an example, where Republicans won slightly over 50% of the two-party vote in 2018 but secured 77% of the state’s seats in Congress due to gerrymandering.
The study examines the relationship between changes in electoral democracy in the U.S. and changes in the risk of death among adults aged 25–64 from 2000 to 2019. The researchers used data from the State Democracy Index and vital statistics data on deaths from all causes. The findings indicate a link between democratic erosion and social dysfunction, such as drug use, violent crime, and incarceration. According to Montez, democratic erosion is associated with significantly higher rates of deaths from drug poisoning and infectious diseases, which often result from intravenous drug use.
The study estimates that if a state were to strengthen its electoral democracy from a moderate level to a very high level, there could be a more than 3% reduction in all-cause mortality among men within the next year. When specifically looking at deaths from drug poisoning and infectious diseases, that decline could increase to an estimated 13%. If all states strengthened their electoral democracy to a very high level, it is projected that over 20,000 working-age deaths could potentially be prevented each year.
To address this issue, the researchers emphasize the need for swift action at both the state and federal levels. “Key actions include banning partisan gerrymandering, improving voter enfranchisement, and reforming campaign finance laws,” says Montez. “Significant progress could be made if Congress passed legislation such as the Freedom to Vote Act, which was introduced in 2021. This national legislation would bring about substantial improvements in voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance laws.”
More information: Jennifer Karas Montez et al, Electoral Democracy and Working‐Age Mortality, The Milbank Quarterly (2023). DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12658
Citation: Weakening democracy linked to rising deaths, study finds (2023, June 22) retrieved 22 June 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-weakening-democracy-linked-deaths.html
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