PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mansour, Hani
AU  - Reeves, James
TI  - Voting and Political Participation in the Aftermath of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.0621-11716R1
DP  - 2024 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 1769--1794
VI  - 59
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/59/6/1769.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/59/6/1769.full
AB  - This study examines the effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the public health response to it on political behaviors. Using data on elections to the U.S. House of Representatives and leveraging cross‐district variation in HIV/AIDS mortality during the period 1983–1987, we find that, beginning with the early 1990s, exposure to HIV/AIDS mortality increased the vote share, voter turnout, and contributions made to Democratic candidates. The increased support for Democrats is larger in competitive districts. The results are consistent with HIV/AIDS mortality impacting cultural attitudes and leading to broader and persistent changes in voting patterns and political participation.