Salem is a Republican stronghold. About 20% of voters here vote Democratic and 80% Republican.
About 59% of adults in Salem typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Salem, ~12% vote Democratic, ~47% Republican, and ~41% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Salem compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Salem leans more Republican than 11 of 59 neighbors.
Salem runs about 30 points more Republican than Arkansas as a whole.
Why Salem leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Salem. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; Salem, AR sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in Salem looks the way it does
Renters vote less often than owners. About 29% of households in Salem rent, above 82% of cities. Limited routine healthcare access lines up with lower turnout, and Salem sits in the bottom quarter on routine-care measures. High food insecurity lines up with lower turnout, and about 20% of adults in Salem report food insecurity, above 80% of cities. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Moko, AR R+60
- Wheeling, AR R+63
- Glencoe, AR R+64
- Sturkie, AR R+69
- Morriston, AR R+63
- Heart, AR R+64
- Camp, AR R+65
- Wiseman, AR R+66
- Viola, AR R+68
- Day, AR R+57
Cities with Similar Populations
- Dillonvale, OH R+49
- Pagedale, MO D+82
- Dallas Center, IA R+32
- Penns Neck, NJ D+37
- McKee, KY R+73
- Smithton, PA R+46
- Pecos, NM D+15
- Crosslake, MN R+27
- Mansfield, MO R+69
- Avoca, PA R+8
All Local Stats
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Arkansas 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.