This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters¹ and other major groups of eligible voters in Michigan.² All demographic data are based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey.³

Hispanics in Michigan’s Eligible Voter Population

• The Hispanic population in Michigan ranks 20th in the nation.⁴ About 437,000 Hispanics reside in Michigan, 0.9% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Michigan’s population is 4% Hispanic, ranking 38th in Hispanic population share nationally.
• There are 196,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan—the 17th largest Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
• Some 3% of Michigan eligible voters are Hispanic, ranking 33rd in Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
• Nearly half (45%) of Hispanics in Michigan are eligible to vote, ranking Michigan 15th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, nearly eight-in-ten (78%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are ages 18 to 29, similar to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (both 33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 20% of all Michigan eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan, 13% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 4% of all eligible voters in Michigan and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are of Mexican origin, 11% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 18% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, six-in-ten (59%) are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 26% are of some other Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. Two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Michigan (20%) have not completed high school, about double the 11% of all Michigan eligible voters who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan (62%) live in owner-occupied homes, similar to the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Michigan (75%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Michigan, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan by nearly 30 to 1, and blacks outnumber Hispanics by 5 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by nearly 2 to 1.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than Asian, black and white eligible voters in Michigan. Some 33% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 26% of Asian eligible voters, 24% of black eligible voters and 19% of white eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do Asian and white eligible voters and similar shares as black eligible voters in Michigan. Some 20% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 17% of black eligible voters, 10% of Asian eligible voters and 9% of white eligible voters. Similar shares of Hispanic (15%) and black (14%) eligible voters have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 49% of Asian and 24% of white eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (62%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black (51%) eligible voters, but they are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (80%) and Asian (77%) eligible voters in Michigan.