Electoral governance as a political determinant of health
State policy context, risk perception, and voter safety
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22071253 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Selena E Ortiz (0000-0002-8537-1913, Pennsylvania State University), Christopher H Seto (0000-0002-6020-4684, Purdue University West Lafayette), Christopher Han-Fai Seto (Department of Sociology, Purdue University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1833040-1833040 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-10 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1833040 |
| PMID | 42359119 |
| OpenAlex | W7164122020 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
Background: Electoral governance is a critical political determinant of health, yet the institutional mechanisms shaping population risk remain understudied. During the 2020 U.S. general election, local officials were responsible for administering voting amid COVID 19 threats and within uneven state electoral structures. Understanding how these political institutions influence officials' perceptions of voter safety and related actions is essential for characterizing the political determinants of health. Methods: We analyzed data from an October 2020 national CivicPulse survey of 493 local officials linked with county and state level indicators. Multinomial and binary logistic regression models assessed how individual characteristics, local pandemic conditions, and state electoral institutions-measured through voting by mail accessibility-predicted perceived voter safety concerns and municipal risk mitigation measures. Results: State electoral institutions were the strongest predictors of heightened voter safety concern, surpassing individual and county-level factors. Although political affiliation influenced perceived risk, higher concern among officials robustly predicted whether municipalities implemented harm reducing measures. Conclusions: Political institutions governing electoral access substantially shape local officials' recognition of public health risks and their protective responses. Electoral governance should be considered a structural component of public health preparedness, with implications for strengthening institutional capacity and democratic resilience
Corporate governance · Harm · Multinomial logistic regression · Politics · Population · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health disparities and outcomes
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Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities
The Theory of Planned Behavior
The Health Belief Model and Preventive Health Behavior
Local policy governance arrangements and Covid-19-related mortality in municipalities in Japan
Safe and Accessible Voting
Voting Rights as a Key Political Determinant of Health, Then and Now
Political Determinants of Health
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Religion at the Frontline
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Election Administration, Voting Options, and Turnout in the 2020 US Election
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |