Decatur County is a Republican stronghold. About 23% of voters here vote Democratic and 77% Republican.
About 73% of adults in Decatur County typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Decatur County, ~17% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~27% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Decatur County compares
Among counties within 50 miles, Decatur County leans more Republican than 15 of 23 neighbors.
Decatur County runs about 35 points more Republican than Indiana as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by city within Decatur County. The south side is the most Republican-leaning (R+63) and the north side is the least Republican-leaning (R+53), a spread of about 10 points.
Why Decatur County leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Decatur County. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Cancer-screening access and voter turnout
Places with high colon-cancer-screening access tend to turn out at a higher rate; Decatur County, IN sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Cancer screening does not drive turnout; it reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access.
Why turnout in Decatur County looks the way it does
Turnout in Decatur County sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Counties
- Ripley County, IN R+59
- Rush County, IN R+57
- Shelby County, IN R+47
- Franklin County, IN R+63
- Bartholomew County, IN R+30
- Jennings County, IN R+56
- Fayette County, IN R+54
- Dearborn County, IN R+53
- Jackson County, IN R+51
- Union County, IN R+58
Counties with Similar Populations
- Clay County, IN R+52
- Mille Lacs County, MN R+42
- Grayson County, KY R+63
- Ashe County, NC R+47
- Lewis County, NY R+48
- Cass County, NE R+42
- Carter County, KY R+61
- Geneva County, AL R+74
- Oceana County, MI R+28
- Marlboro County, SC D+9
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Indiana Secretary of State, 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.