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

• The Hispanic population in Rhode Island ranks 37th in the nation.⁴ About 131,000 Hispanics reside in Rhode Island, 0.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Rhode Island’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 13th largest Hispanic population share nationally.
• There are 54,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island—ranks 35th in Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
• Some 7% of Rhode Island eligible voters are Hispanic, the 13th largest Hispanic eligible voter population share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
• More than four-in-ten (41%) Hispanics in Rhode Island are eligible to vote, ranking Rhode Island 21st nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, more than eight-in-ten (81%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. Fully 37% of Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island are ages 18 to 29, greater than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all Rhode Island eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island, one-third (33%) are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 8% of all eligible voters in the state and nationwide.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Puerto Ricans make up 41% of Hispanic eligible voters and Dominicans are another 28%, while those of Mexican origin total 7%. This is a contrast to the U.S. overall, where nearly six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters (59%) are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 3% are Dominican.
• Educational Attainment. More than one-quarter of Latino eligible voters in Rhode Island (27%) have not completed high school, about double the 13% of all Rhode Island eligible voters who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. Some 38% of Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island live in owner-occupied homes, less than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Rhode Island (65%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Rhode Island, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Rhode Island by a 12-to-1 margin. However, there are more Hispanic eligible voters in the state (about 54,000) than black eligible voters (34,000).
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black and white eligible voters in Rhode Island. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 32% of black eligible voters and 20% of white eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do black and white eligible voters in Rhode Island. Some 27% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 21% of black eligible voters and 11% of white eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (38%) are slightly more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black (37%) eligible voters in Rhode Island, but they are less likely to do so than white (69%) eligible voters.