Overview
- Using full-electorate records from Finland’s 1999 parliamentary vote, the study tracked 3,185,572 adults aged 30 and over through 2020.
- Nonvoters had a 73% higher all-cause mortality risk for men and 63% for women, which fell to 64% and 59% after adjusting for education.
- The association exceeded the mortality difference between people with basic and tertiary education, underscoring the strength of the link.
- Differences were most pronounced for external causes of death and among younger adults, with the largest gap observed in men under 50.
- Among men in the lowest quarter of household income, the excess risk linked to not voting was 9–12% higher, and authors highlight potential uses for monitoring health and representation.