Democratic backsliding and population health: The case of polling place closures after Shelby County v. Holder

• In Event: The Health Consequences of Forced Migration and Democratic Erosion

Abstract

The U.S., once a global leader in democracy, has experienced a decline towards an ‘illiberal democracy’, particularly in Southern states. However, we know little about the public health consequences of democratic backsliding. Poll closures serve as a key indicator of this democratic backsliding. This study hypothesizes that such closures disproportionately affect infant health by disrupting the distribution of resources and increasing feelings of social exclusion, low sense of control, stigma, and unfair treatment among non-White populations. Linking data on polling place closures occurring because of the overturning of Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act from 2012 to 2018 to restricted U.S. birth records, the analysis employs a staggered difference-in-difference analysis to identify causal effects. Findings indicate that polling place colures led to increased low birthweight rates among infants of U.S.-born Latinas. This research provides empirical evidence of how voter suppression adversely impacts health outcomes, highlighting how democratic erosion contributes to the underlying causes of health inequities.

Author

• Paola Langer, Princeton University
  Presenting Author