61109 is a true toss-up. About 52% of voters here vote Democratic and 48% Republican.
About 60% of adults in 61109 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 61109, ~31% vote Democratic, ~29% Republican, and ~40% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 61109 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 61109 leans more Democratic than 17 of 24 neighbors.
61109 runs about 6 points more Republican than Illinois as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 61109. The northwest side runs the most Democratic (D+21) and the southwest side runs the most Republican (R+25), a spread of about 45 points.
Why 61109 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 61109. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Population density and Democratic lean
Places with high population density tend to lean Democratic; 61109, IL sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure.
Why turnout in 61109 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 61109 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. High food insecurity lines up with lower turnout, and about 23% of adults in 61109 report food insecurity, above 85% of zip codes. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Illinois State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.