A recent study conducted by Syracuse University delves into the correlation between the erosion of democratic principles and the surging mortality rates.
The scrutiny surrounding voting rights has intensified throughout the United States in recent years, leading to a number of cases being presented before the Supreme Court during the current session. However, this new study posits that the implications of this issue extend far beyond the realm of politics.
The research team’s primary objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the persistently high mortality rates among working-age adults in the United States, a trend that predates the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While previous studies have identified factors such as labor and firearm policies as contributing factors, they fell short of providing a comprehensive explanation. Consequently, the team embarked on an investigation to ascertain a possible connection between this alarming mortality trend and the gradual deterioration of democratic principles.
Impact on health
“Studies from other countries show that strong democracies invest in education, provide economic opportunities for all, and make policy decisions that are aligned with people’s preferences,” the researchers explain. “One consequence is that stronger democracies have lower rates of violent crime and higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Some US surveys indicate that even the perception of democratic erosion may lead to anxiety, depression, substance use, and sleep problems.”
The various manifestations of democratic erosion encompass a range of practices, including the purging of eligible voters, restrictions on absentee voting, and the manipulation of congressional districts through partisan gerrymandering. The researchers highlight North Carolina as an exemplary case, illustrating the extent of such practices.
“In 2018, despite Republicans winning slightly more than 50% of the two-party vote, they secured 77% of the state’s congressional seats. This is gerrymandering taken to the extreme,” the researchers explain.
Democratic decline
The study investigates the relationship between changes in electoral democracy within the United States and corresponding shifts in the mortality risk among individuals aged 25 to 64 from 2000 to 2019. To conduct their analysis, the team utilizes data from the State Democracy Index, alongside vital statistics encompassing deaths resulting from all causes. The findings of the study reveal multiple connections between these factors.
The erosion of democratic values can take various forms, including the removal of eligible voters from registration lists, the denial of absentee voting rights, and the manipulation of congressional districts through partisan gerrymandering. North Carolina serves as a notable case in point.
“Consider that, in 2018, even though Republicans won slightly more than 50% of the two-party vote, they took 77% of the state’s seats in Congress. That’s gerrymandering on steroids,” the authors explain.
The study investigates the correlation between shifts in electoral democracy in the United States and corresponding changes in the mortality risk among individuals aged 25 to 64 from 2000 to 2019. Utilizing data from the State Democracy Index and vital statistics encompassing deaths resulting from all causes, the team identifies several connections between these factors.
“Some of the strongest evidence pointed to indicators of what we might call ‘social disfunction’ such as drug use, violent crime, and incarceration,” the researchers continue. “Democratic erosion predicted significantly higher rates of deaths from drug poisoning and from infectious disease which can often result from intravenous drug use.”
Strengthening democracy
According to the researchers’ estimates, if a state were to enhance its electoral democracy from a moderate level to a highly robust level, it could potentially result in a more than 3% decrease in all-cause mortality among men within the subsequent year.
Moreover, when focusing on drug poisoning and infectious disease-related deaths specifically, this decline is projected to rise significantly to an estimated 13%. If all states were to strengthen their electoral democracy to a very high level, researchers suggest that over 20,000 deaths of working-age individuals could potentially be prevented annually. The researchers emphasize that addressing this issue necessitates prompt actions at both the state and federal levels.
“Some key actions include banning partisan gerrymandering, improving voter enfranchisement, and reforming campaign finance laws,” they conclude. “Significant progress could be made if Congress passed legislation such as the Freedom to Vote Act, which was introduced in 2021. This national piece of legislation would make substantial improvements in voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance laws.”
