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.
