Why Do People Vote Against Their Interests?

For the last three years, Gallup has called 1,000 randomly selected American adults each day and asked them about indicators of their quality of life. Responses are converted to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Here are the 2010 results, sorted by Congressional districts.





In this first map, respondents were asked about health problems that diminish their quality of life. Darker orange means more health problems.


This map shows the percentage of respondents clinically obese. 38% on the high end, illustrated by dark orange and 10% on the low end illustrated by light orange.




This map shows what percentage of respondents exercised for at least 30 minutes on three of the last seven days. Darker orange is better.




This map shows what percentage of respondents had enough money to buy food for their family... Notice the correlation between obesity and inadequate food.




In this map illustrates how many of respondents had health insurance. 98% dark orange versus 58% light orange.






One final map: This map shows results of the 2010 midterm election. Blue is Democrat and red is republican. Notice that concentrations of republican votes, in the southeast especially, are also concentrations of constituents who are poor, unhealthy, obese, and lacking health insurance.

For more maps click here