This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in New York.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 New York’s Eligible Voter Population
- The Hispanic population in New York is the fourth largest in the nation.4 About 3.4 million Hispanics reside in New York, 6.8% of all Hispanics in the United States.
- New York’s population is 18% Hispanic, the ninth largest Hispanic population share nationally.
- There are 1.7 million Hispanic eligible voters in New York—the fourth largest Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
- Some 13% of New York eligible voters are Hispanic, the eighth largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
- Almost half (48%) of Hispanics in New York are eligible to vote, ranking New York 10th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, more than three-quarters (78%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.
Characteristics of Eligible Voters
- Age. Nearly three-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in New York (29%) are ages 18 to 29, just below the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all eligible voters in New York and in the overall U.S. are ages 18 to 29.
- Citizenship and Nativity. Fully 30% of Hispanic eligible voters in New York are naturalized U.S. citizens, compared with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters nationwide and 16% of all New York eligible voters.
- Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in New York have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Fully 45% of Hispanic eligible voters in New York are of Puerto Rican origin, 20% are of Dominican origin and just 6% are Mexican. By contrast, most Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. are Mexican (59%), while 14% are Puerto Rican and 5% are of Cuban origin.
- Educational Attainment. Among Latino eligible voters in New York, 27% have not completed high school, more than double the 13% of all New York eligible voters who have not completed high school. This is also greater than the percentage of Latino eligible voters nationwide who lack a high school diploma (25%).
- Homeownership. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in New York (33%) live in owner-occupied homes, far below the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in New York (60%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.
- Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in New York by more than 5 to 1. In New York, there are 170,000 fewer Hispanic eligible voters than black eligible voters, but Hispanics outnumber Asians by about 1 million among eligible voters.
- Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black, Asian and white eligible voters in New York. Nearly three-tenths (29%) of Latino eligible voters are ages 18 to 29 compared with 25% of black eligible voters, 24% of Asian eligible voters and 19% of white eligible voters.
- Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do black, Asian and white eligible voters in New York. Some 27% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 19% of black eligible voters, 15% of Asian eligible voters and 8% of white eligible voters.
- Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (33%) are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes in New York than are whites (70%), Asians (62%) and blacks (39%) who are eligible to vote.
