Independence is a Republican stronghold. About 24% of voters here vote Democratic and 76% Republican.
About 55% of adults in Independence typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Independence, ~13% vote Democratic, ~42% Republican, and ~45% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Independence compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Independence leans more Republican than 4 of 72 neighbors.
Independence runs about 58 points more Republican than Virginia as a whole. Virginia leans Democratic overall, while Independence is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Independence. The northeast side is the most Republican-leaning (R+64) and the southeast side is the least Republican-leaning (R+44), a spread of about 19 points.
Why Independence leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per city to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for Independence, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Independence votes against the grain of Virginia. Virginia leans Democratic overall, while Independence runs about 58 points more Republican. Low college attainment predicts Republican voting, and Independence sits in the bottom quarter (about 15%, below 76% of cities).
Cancer-screening access and voter turnout
Places with low colon-cancer-screening access tend to turn out at a lower rate; Independence, VA sits below the national average on this measure. Cancer screening does not drive turnout; it reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access.
Why turnout in Independence looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. Independence 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 20% of adults in Independence report food insecurity, above 81% of cities. Low high-school completion lines up with lower turnout, and about 85% of adults in Independence have completed high school, below 80% of cities. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Carsonville, VA R+61
- Peach Bottom, VA R+49
- Lower Elk Creek, VA R+63
- Volney, VA R+54
- Elk Creek, VA R+62
- Fox, VA R+56
- Sparta, NC R+56
- Stratford, NC R+60
- Spring Valley, VA R+64
Cities with Similar Populations
- Gordo, AL R+55
- Prescott, MI R+40
- Marionville, MO R+60
- St. James City, FL R+41
- Waterbury, VT D+20
- Freeland, MD R+26
- Galesville, WI R+23
- Jennings, FL R+41
- North Great River, NY R+29
- Mason, TN R+7
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Virginia Department 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.