This week, election season started in earnest. The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is October 7, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 25. Early voting starts on October 21 and ends on November 1—and Election Day is November 5.
If election season is stressing you out, you’re not alone. The Pew Research Center reports that the majority of Americans feel “exhausted” and/or “angry” when they think about politics. Those negative feelings can become a form of chronic stress that can literally make us sick.
But perhaps paradoxically, civic participation and voting are good for your health! The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s 2024 County Health Rankings report, Creating Thriving Communities Through Civic Participation, explains that residents of U.S. counties with robust voting and civic engagement have longer life expectancy than counties with barriers to civic participation and low voter turnout.
The distinction between politics as a health stressor and civic participation as a health benefit lies in the “hows” of engagement. Experts all agree: binging on scary news, fighting with strangers on social media, self-isolation, catastrophizing, and unrealistic expectations all are tried-and-true recipes for disaster. Building in-personal social connections and signing up for manageable activities are good for your heart. Managing your news consumption is good for your head.
Interestingly, there’s one area where experts definitely don’t agree: Some mental health professionals say it can be helpful to limit conversation with those you know have opposing political views, while others point out that it builds our emotional health to find points of shared humanity with political opponents.
What do you think? In a fraught political climate, do you want to learn about opposing viewpoints? Or do you prefer to stick close to folks who share your opinions?
Want to learn more? This month’s County Health Rankings webinar will discuss storytelling as a strategy to increase voter participation. The webinar will feature information about Thrive Through Civic Health: We Will Vote, a non-partisan initiative designed to improve health by strengthening civic and voter participation across the health sector.
Register for the webinar on voting and health
Your healthcare team already knows voting is a key component of a healthy community. Healthcare professionals across the country are working on voter mobilization through Vot-ER, a program started by doctors to connect patients with opportunities to register and vote.
Texas Impact staff have been busy this week preparing for next week’s biennial board legislative retreat. Before each legislative session, representatives from Texas Impact’s member institutions adopt a legislative agenda that guides our work at the Capitol. Board members consider the policies and statements of their respective faith traditions; they hear from policy experts; and they review the results of our member survey. We’re excited to share the new agenda with you as soon as it’s final.
We know you are working hard to mobilize voters and ensure Texans can vote without fear or intimidation. Thank you so much for your work to keep our democracy strong.
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