Voter Participation

The Voter Participation indicator measures the proportion of voting eligible residents (i.e., over 18 years old, citizens, and, depending on the state, non-felons) who voted in the last election. It is an important indicator of community engagement, civic pride, and social capital. Community engagement and social cohesion are linked to factors such as social support systems, which impact health outcomes. Individuals who participate in elections have been found less likely to report poor/fair health; conversely, where political engagement is low, studies show that people had higher odds of reporting poor health. Also, individuals who exercise their right to vote play a role in selecting public officials and referendums that can impact local economic health, education, and health systems and public safety. Voting data is extracted from the Jefferson County Board of Registrar’s Office.

Neighborhoodsort ascending Indicator Value Rank
Zion City 5.0% 59
Wylam 4.4% 78
Woodlawn 4.9% 63
Woodland Park 6.8% 29
West Goldwire 5.3% 50
West End Manor 4.8% 68
West Brownville 6.3% 36
Wahouma 5.3% 50
Tuxedo 4.0% 89
Thomas 5.7% 44
Tarpley City 7.5% 20
Sun Valley 3.9% 90
Spring Lake 6.1% 39
Southside 5.2% 55
South Woodlawn 6.3% 36
South Titusville 7.1% 24
South Pratt 6.9% 26
South East Lake 6.4% 35
Smithfield Estates 6.1% 39
Smithfield 4.7% 70
Sherman Heights 6.9% 26
Sandusky 5.0% 59
Roosevelt 5.3% 50
Roebuck Springs 6.5% 32
Roebuck 8.4% 4
Rising - West Princeton 4.1% 85
Riley 5.5% 47
Redmont Park 7.5% 20
Powderly 4.9% 63
Pine Knoll Vista 7.6% 15
Penfield Park 20.2% 1
Oxmoor 5.7% 44
Overton 5.6% 46
Oakwood Place 4.6% 75
Oak Ridge Park 7.7% 13
Oak Ridge 3.3% 98
Norwood 4.3% 80
North Titusville 3.8% 93
North Pratt 5.4% 49
North East Lake 4.4% 78
North Birmingham 3.6% 96
North Avondale 5.8% 42
Mason City 4.9% 63
Maple Grove 10.1% 2
Liberty Highlands 7.4% 22
Kingston 3.6% 96
Killough Springs 7.8% 12
Jones Valley 5.2% 55
Inglenook 3.9% 90
Industrial Center 6.8% 29
Huffman 8.4% 4
Hooper City 4.9% 63
Hillman Park 8.1% 8
Hillman 7.6% 15
Highland Park 5.9% 41
Harriman Park 3.8% 93
Green Acres 5.1% 57
Graymont 4.2% 81
Grasselli Heights 7.9% 11
Glen Iris 5.1% 57
Germania Park 5.3% 50
Gate City 8.2% 6
Garden Highlands 5.3% 50
Fountain Heights 2.8% 99
Forest Park 7.4% 22
Five Points South 4.2% 81
Fairview 4.5% 76
Fairmont 3.9% 90
Evergreen 4.7% 70
Ensley Highlands 4.2% 81
Ensley 4.1% 85
Enon Ridge 7.6% 15
Echo Highlands 8.0% 10
Eastwood 6.5% 32
East Thomas 7.6% 15
East Lake 6.5% 32
East Brownville 8.1% 8
East Birmingham 4.5% 76
East Avondale 6.2% 38
Druid Hills 4.1% 85
Dolomite 8.2% 6
Crestwood South 9.8% 3
Crestwood North 6.9% 26
Crestline 7.7% 13
Collegeville 3.8% 93
College Hills 4.2% 81
Central Pratt 5.8% 42
Central Park 4.7% 70
Central City 5.5% 47
Bush Hills 4.9% 63
Brummitt Heights 7.6% 15
Brownsville Heights 5.0% 59
Brown Springs 7.1% 24
Bridlewood 6.7% 31
Belview Heights 4.7% 70
Arlington - West End 4.1% 85
Apple Valley 4.8% 68
Airport Highlands 5.0% 59
Acipco-Finley 4.7% 70

Key Citations:
1. Cummins, S., M. Stafford, S. Macintyre, M. Marmot, and A. Ellaway. “Neighbourhood environment and its association with self-rated health: evidence from Scotland and England.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 59, no. 3 (March 2005): 207–213.
2. Kim, Daniel, and Ichiro Kawachi. “A multilevel analysis of key forms of community- and individual-level social capital as predictors of self-rated health in the United States.” Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 83, no. 5 (September 2006): 813–826.
Stretch versions: The basic version of the voter participation data will be for precincts. The “stretch” version would be to geocode the addresses and create census-tract level indicators.