This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Nevada.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 Nevada’s Eligible Voter Population
- The Hispanic population in Nevada is the 13th largest in the nation.4 About 720,000 Hispanics reside in Nevada, 1.4% of all Hispanics in the United States.
- Nevada’s population is 27% Hispanic, the 5th largest Hispanic population share nationally.
- There are 268,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada—the 13th largest Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
- Some 15% of Nevada eligible voters are Hispanic, the sixth largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
- More than one-third (37%) of Hispanics in Nevada are eligible to vote, ranking Nevada 29th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, eight-in-ten (80%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.
Characteristics of Eligible Voters
- Age. More than one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada (35%) are ages 18 to 29, similar to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 21% of all Nevada eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
- Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada, 29% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. and just 12% of all eligible voters in Nevada and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
- Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada are of Mexican origin, 6% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 22% 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. Nearly three-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Nevada (27%) have not completed high school, more than double the 12% of all Nevada eligible voters who have not completed high school.
- Homeownership. More than half of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada (55%) live in owner-occupied homes, similar to the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Nevada (61%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.
Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Nevada, by Race and Ethnicity
- Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada by more than 4 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber black and Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1 each.
- Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black, Asian and white eligible voters in Nevada. Some 35% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 26% of black eligible voters, 20% of Asian eligible voters and 17% of white eligible voters.
- Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do black, white and Asian eligible voters in Nevada. Some 27% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 13% of black eligible voters, 9% of white eligible voters and 8% of Asian eligible voters.
- Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (55%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black (35%) eligible voters, but they are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than Asian (72%) and white (65%) eligible voters in Nevada.
