Need to Know
Vote and live longer!
And online article at AARP.org notes an unusual side effect of voting. Older voters already flock to the polls in higher numbers than younger generations do. It turns out this action may help them live longer too.
Older adults who filled out ballots for the 2008 presidential election had a lower risk of dying, compared with nonvoters, as the years went by, according to a March 2026 study published in The Journals of Gerontology. The study authors found this was true regardless of a voter’s income, health, which party they favored or whether they submitted a ballot by mail or in person.
How voting affects health
“Voting is a form of civic engagement that is altruistic,” says Femida Handy, a coauthor of the study and a professor of social policy and practice at the University of Pennsylvania. “Unless you believe your vote will change the elections, you’re doing it for the public good. You want your voice heard. Those kinds of acts generally help well-being.”
Handy decided to study the impact of voting on longevity after being intrigued by the American Medical Association’s 2022 declaration that voting leads to stronger and healthier communities. “But they were promoting voting at the community level,” Handy says. “What happens to the people who vote?”
She and her coauthor, Sara Konrath, an associate professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University, knew from other research that volunteering has a positive effect on health. The researchers believe that voting is another form of civic engagement — one where older adults know they may not live long enough to see the results of their decisions made in the voting booth.
The two authors analyzed an existing large study of Wisconsin residents who graduated from high school in 1957, which put them at an average age of 69 in 2008. They used data from objective voting records and death records of more than 7,700 respondents in 2013, 2018 and 2023, when participants were 84 years old on average. The authors controlled for other factors that might affect someone’s mortality, such as health or financial resources, and examined whether political affiliation or voting by mail played a part.
They found that even when these factors were considered, those who voted in the 2008 election had a 45 percent lower mortality risk after five years than nonvoters. Voters’ risk of dying was 37 percent lower after 10 years and 29 percent after 15 years.
Handy and Konrath theorize that there could be a biological response to the act of voting that boosts well-being. The social aspect of voting may also provide a sense of belonging and connection.
For whatever reason, vote this year and every year. If you need information on voting in Georgia, here’s the website with the latest rules and regulations:
https://sos.ga.gov/elections-division-georgia-secretary-states-office
Fun to Do
Athens Restaurant Week
Back by popular demand, dozens of Athens’ best restaurants will tempt you with lunch & dinner menus at special prices the week of July 13 – 19. Restaurants and breweries throughout Athens will be offering great deals on special prix fixe menus, beer flights and sweet treats. Visitathensga.com will have the full list of participating restaurants.
Really, really free market
It’s like a yard sale but everything is free. Every second Saturday each month, from 12 noon to 1:30, at Reese Pope Park, 375 Reese St. Bring what you can, take what you need!
Photographer of the famous: Nancy Ellison
The University of Georgia Special Collections Library will present “Seeking Intrinsic Essence, Whatever Direction: The Photography of Nancy Ellison,” opening July 24 through Dec. 11. Ellison is celebrated for her intimate, insightful documentation of contemporary culture over a career spanning several decades. Her portraits include Jack Nicholson, Mick Jagger, the Clintons, Tennessee Williams and many other actors, musicians, artists, writers, politicians, and even Barbie. She has also extensively photographed performing artists in ballet and opera.
Ellison donated her entire collection of working files, artifacts, and photographic materials used over her career between 1970 and 2020 to UGA. Slides and polaroids, transparencies, electronic files, contact sheets and prints of many sizes and formats are included of celebrities, dancers, opera performers, politicians, movie stills, and projects including Barbie Live calendars, as well as figurative and mixed media collaborations. In total, the library now has a little over 100 boxes of materials and some digital archives, as well as a few of her paintings.
Ellison will give a talk on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in Room 285 at the Special Collections Building; the event will be free and open to the public.
Visit OCAF
A new exhibit has just been mounted in the Members Gallery at the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. “Art in the Family,” featuring the multi-medium artwork of OCAF members Charley and Dana Blair will run through July 31.
In addition, OCAF’s 30th Southworks National Juried Art Exhibition is also on the walls of the main gallery until July 31.
OCAF also welcomes groups for artist talks, garden tours, and hands-on art experiences. Programs can be tailored to accommodate a group’s interests, from book clubs to professional associations. Gail Karwoski at 706-255-8367 to set up a time. Art is good for your health! Check out the item in our Healthy Us column.
Opening reception for new exhibits
You’re invited to the opening reception celebrating two new exhibitions at the Lyndon House Arts Center. It Came to Me in a Dream features vibrant, imaginative paintings by self-taught Georgia artist Valton Murray, whose work draws from memory, intuition, and the landscapes of the rural South. In Interwoven, Jennifer Heynen presents luminous paintings and sculptural weavings inspired by the coast. Meet the artists and experience these dynamic new exhibitions on Thursday, July 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Marigold Movie Night
In the evenings over in Winterville, they’ve lined up some good movies for the summer at the Marigold Auditorium. July 23 – How to Train your Dragon; July 24 — The Godfather; July 30 — Superman 2025; 7/31 — ET, the Extra Terrestrial; 8/6 — Ready Player One; 8/7 — Jumanji.
The Hope Gala
The Ashton Hope Keegan Foundation’s 9th annual Hope Gala is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8 at 1055 Barber St. This year’s gala shines a spotlight on the courage, resilience and leadership of women. Hors d’oeuvres, music by Sound Insight, a silent auction and stories of hope and transformation are all on the program. All proceeds directly support programs that help women overcome barriers through education and training. For more information, visit: ashtonhopekeeganfoundation.org.
The Art of Sedition
The Winterville Cultural Center Gallery has mounted a special exhibition titled, “The Art of Sedition,” featuring 21 works by local artists who asked themselves, “what does rebellion look like to me?” Even better, after you view the modern works, you’re invited to head downstairs for another exhibit “Rebellious Art, Treasonous Artists” and see how artists from the 1770s used their own methods to answer the same question. Both run through Sept. 19 as part of the commemoration of the American Revolution.
Artist talk: Excursions in Ukraine
Join photographer Stephen Humphreys for a discussion of Excursions in Ukraine, a powerful exhibition at the Lyndon House, featuring images from his travels throughout Ukraine over the past four years, documenting both the devastation of war and the persistence of everyday life. Drawing from his experiences working on war-crimes investigations and research initiatives in the region, Humphreys will share insights into the stories behind the images and the realities of contemporary Ukraine. Thursday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m.
Monthly Contra Dance
Contra dancing is kind of like square dancing – it’s very social and doesn’t require a partner or experience. The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society hold a dance on the third Saturday of every month except for June and July. The next two dances are Aug. 15 and Sept. 19 at the Memorial Park Administration Building, 293 Gran Ellen Drive. $12 for adults; $10 for students and under 17, free.
Classic City Community Chorus Summer Show
Formerly the Athens Choral Society, the CCCC is the longest running non-audition chorus in the Athens area, dedicated to providing opportunities for lovers of choral music to sing and to providing audiences with free or low-cost programs. This summer’s program is Murder, Mystery & Mayhem on Aug. 21 and 22. Expect “haunting harmonies, killer choreography, and devilishly delightful surprises.”
Athens Film Festival
Returning for a third year with a vibrant lineup of screenings, panels, and events celebrating bold, independent cinema, the Athens Film Festival is scheduled for Aug. 27 – 30 at four venues around town, including Cine, The Globe, Flicker, and the Morton Theatre. The festival showcases a dynamic range of films—including international features, documentaries, animation, horror, comedy, and music videos. Visit athensfilm.com for line-up and ticket information.
