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Take up thy bed, and vote : measuring the relationship between voting behaviour and indicators of health

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin Denny
  • Orla Doyle

Abstract

Individuals experiencing poor health are less likely to vote at election time, despite being the ones most affected by health policies implemented by the successful party. This paper investigates the relationship between health and voter turnout and political party choice in the 1979, 1987 and 1997 British general elections using the National Child Development Study (NCDS). It finds that poor health is associated with lower turnout, as the perceived costs of voting, such as the physical and mental effort involved, are greater than the perceived benefits, which are derived from the policy implications of the election outcome. In addition, the subset of unhealthy individuals who do vote at election time generally support Labour, as such voters are more likely to utilise the NHS and hence support parties that advocate public provision of health services. Given the low participation rates of the unhealthy, a political party which formulates an attractive policy package aimed at such potential voters could therefore mobilise a previously untapped source of the electorate.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Denny & Orla Doyle, 2005. "Take up thy bed, and vote : measuring the relationship between voting behaviour and indicators of health," Working Papers 200522, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
  • Handle: RePEc:ucn:wpaper:200522
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/160
    File Function: First version, 2005
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kevin Denny & Orla Doyle, 2006. "Measuring the Relationship between Voter Turnout and Health in Ireland," Working Papers 200610, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    2. Kevin Denny & Orla Doyle, 2009. "Does Voting History Matter? Analysing Persistence in Turnout," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(1), pages 17-35, January.
    3. repec:ucn:wpaper:10197/167 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Liam Delaney, 2005. "The Irish non-voter : evidence from the Irish National Election Study and Living in Ireland surveys," Open Access publications 10197/596, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    5. repec:ucn:wpaper:10197/596 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Deniz Guvercin, 2018. "How Income Inequality Affects Voter Turnout," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 1, pages 35-48, March.

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