Several studies show that poor personal health decreases voting propensity. Little is known, however, about the contextual factors that influence the differences in turnout between voters with good and poor health. In this study, we examine whether health-related inequalities in electoral participation are more or less pronounced in countries with a more egalitarian welfare system. Two competing hypotheses can be set. First, welfare state context may narrow the turnout gap between the healthy and unhealthy by equalizing the opportunities and lowering the costs of voting. Alternatively, unequal economic and social settings can mobilize citizens with poor health, implying a wider turnout gap in welfare systems. These hypotheses are tested using six rounds (2002–2012) of the European Social Survey across 30 countries.
