Latinos in the 2014 Election: Nebraska

This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters¹ and other major groups of eligible voters in Nebraska.² All demographic data are based on Pew Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.³

Hispanics in Nebraska’s Eligible Voter Population

• The Hispanic population in Nebraska is the 35th largest in the nation. About 179,000 Hispanics reside in Nebraska, 0.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Nebraska’s population is 10% Hispanic, the 20th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 63,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska—the 34th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 5% of Nebraska eligible voters are Hispanic, the 23rd largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 35% of Hispanics in Nebraska are eligible to vote, ranking Nebraska 42nd nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 78% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. About four-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska (38%) are ages 18 to 29, higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Nebraska eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters (both 22%) in that age range.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska, 26% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 3% of all eligible voters in Nebraska and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some 79% of Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska are of Mexican origin, 6% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 15% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, 59% are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 27% are of some other Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. One-quarter of Latino eligible voters in Nebraska have not completed high school, more than triple the 7% of all Nebraska eligible voters who have not completed high school and about the same as the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska (56%) live in owner-occupied homes, the same as the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Nebraska (70%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Nebraska, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Nebraska by 19 to 1. There are more Hispanic eligible voters (63,000) than black eligible voters (54,000).
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white and black eligible voters in Nebraska. Some 38% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 20% of white and 25% of black eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white and black eligible voters in Nebraska. Some 25% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 6% of white eligible voters and 18% of black eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (56%) are more likely than black eligible voters (39%) but less likely than white eligible voters (72%) to live in owner-occupied homes in Nebraska.