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

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.