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.

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

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.