Universal is a Republican stronghold. About 25% of voters here vote Democratic and 75% Republican.
About 68% of adults in Universal typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Universal, ~17% vote Democratic, ~51% Republican, and ~32% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Universal compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Universal leans more Republican than 25 of 88 neighbors.
Universal runs about 32 points more Republican than Indiana as a whole.
Why Universal 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 Universal, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Car-dependent areas vote Republican. About 85% of residents in Universal drive to work alone, about 12 points above the U.S. average of 74%.
Preventive-care access and voter turnout
Places with strong routine preventive-care access tend to turn out at a higher rate; Universal, IN sits above the national average on this measure. Dental visits do not drive turnout; the rate reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access, which line up with who votes.
Why turnout in Universal looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. About 90% of households in Universal own their home, about 8 points above the Indiana average of 82%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Clinton, IN R+42
- Libertyville, IN R+48
- Fairview Park, IN R+47
- Tecumseh, IN R+41
- Jonestown, IN R+56
- Lyford, IN R+60
- Spelterville, IN R+44
- Summit Grove, IN R+53
Cities with Similar Populations
- Zoar, NY R+42
- Denham, MN R+44
- Morrison, IA R+38
- Lansing, WV R+59
- Odaville, WV R+64
- Lattasville, OH R+60
- Wolco, OK R+68
- Tecolote, NM D+17
- Stoney Fork, KY R+81
- Borup, MN R+29
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.