This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in the District of Columbia.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in the District of Columbia’s Eligible Voter Population

Population and Electorate in the United States and the District of Columbia, 2012
  • The Hispanic population in the District of Columbia ranks 42nd in the nation. About 63,000 Hispanics reside in District of Columbia, 0.1% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • The District of Columbia’s population is 10% Hispanic, the 19th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
  • There are 26,000 Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia—ranking 43rd in terms of Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
  • Some 5% of District of Columbia eligible voters are Hispanic, the 21st largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
  • Some 41% of Hispanics in the District of Columbia are eligible to vote, ranking the District of Columbia 27th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 85% of the District’s white population and 75% of the District’s black population are eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in the District of Columbia and the United States, 2012
  • Age. About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia (35%) are ages 18 to 29, about the same as the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and of all District of Columbia eligible voters (30%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia, one-third are naturalized U.S. citizens, greater than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Just 7% of all eligible voters in the District of Columbia and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Only 16% of Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia are of Mexican origin, about one-quarter (27%) are of Salvadoran origin, and 57% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, 59% are Mexican, 3% are Salvadoran, and 39% are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. About two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in the District of Columbia (19%) have not completed high school, double the 10% of all District of Columbia eligible voters who have not completed high school and about the same as the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in District of Columbia (41%) and all eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in the District of Columbia, by Race and Ethnicity

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in the District of Columbia and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012
  • Number of Eligible Voters. Black eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in the District of Columbia by about 9 to 1, and white eligible voters outnumber Hispanics in the District of Columbia by about 7 to 1.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black eligible voters in the District of Columbia. Some 35% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 24% of black eligible voters. A similar share (36%) of white eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white eligible voters in the District of Columbia. Some 19% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with just 1% of white eligible voters. Some 17% of black eligible voters do not have a high school diploma. Hispanics are more likely to have at least a bachelor’s degree than blacks (42% vs. 22%), but less likely than whites (83%).
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (33%) are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (41%) and white eligible voters (44%) in the District of Columbia.