This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Oregon.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 Oregon’s Eligible Voter Population

Population and Electorate in the United States and Oregon, 2012
  • The Hispanic population in Oregon is the 19th largest in the nation. About 473,000 Hispanics reside in Oregon, 0.9% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Oregon’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 14th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
  • There are 168,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon—the 20th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
  • Some 6% of Oregon eligible voters are Hispanic, the 20th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
  • Some 36% of Hispanics in Oregon are eligible to vote, ranking Oregon 41st nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Oregon and the United States, 2012
  • Age. About four-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon (39%) are ages 18 to 29, higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Oregon eligible voters (20%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon, 19% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is less than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 5% of all eligible voters in Oregon and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some 73% of Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon are of Mexican origin, 5% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 22% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, 59% are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 27% are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. About two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Oregon (19%) have not completed high school, more than twice the 8% of all Oregon eligible voters who have not completed high school and less than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon (49%) live in owner-occupied homes, less than the 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Oregon (64%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Oregon, by Race and Ethnicity

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Oregon and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012
  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon by more than 14 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1 and black eligible voters by about 4 to 1.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, Asian and black eligible voters in Oregon. Some 39% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 18% of white eligible voters, 22% of Asian eligible voters and 32% of black eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white, Asian and black eligible voters in Oregon. Some 19% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 7% of white eligible voters, 11% of Asian eligible voters and 8% of black eligible voters. About equal shares of Hispanic (15%) and black (14%) eligible voters have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 29% of white and 39% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (49%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (35%) in Oregon, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (66%) or Asian (69%) eligible voters.