Counties with strong civic infrastructure, including accessible voting and ample information sources, tend to be healthier, a new report from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps reveals. The study, led by Sheri Johnson, director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, found that counties facilitating greater civic participation often experience better social and economic opportunities and longer life expectancy.
The report highlights significant regional disparities, with healthier counties concentrated in the Northeast and Western United States. In Wisconsin, the healthiest counties form a strip across the southcentral and southeast parts of the state, including Madison and Milwaukee. However, discrimination and disinvestment have left some regions with fewer opportunities for residents to address common health challenges.
“Assuring everyone has a say in shaping these conditions is key,” Johnson emphasized. “History shows that when historically excluded groups build power, meaningful changes can happen that benefit the health and well-being of all.”
Bethany Rogerson, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps co-director, called for action to improve civic health, stating, “We can invest in ways for people to connect, value their participation, and, ultimately, influence how and whether we thrive. We can and should all have a say in our communities’ futures.”
The report suggests expanding automatic voter registration to increase turnout and simplify the voting process as one potential solution to address civic health disparities. By fostering greater civic engagement, particularly among underrepresented communities, the study argues that counties can create healthier environments for all residents.
See “Civic infrastructure tied to better health” (March 21, 2024)
