Latinos in the 2014 Election: Virginia

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

• The Hispanic population in Virginia is the 15th largest in the nation. About 687,000 Hispanics reside in Virginia, 1.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Virginia’s population is 8% Hispanic, the 28th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 271,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia—the 15th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 5% of Virginia eligible voters are Hispanic, the 24th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 39% of Hispanics in Virginia are eligible to vote, ranking Virginia 31st nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 79% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia (37%) are ages 18 to 29, higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Virginia eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters (both 22%) in that age range.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia, 34% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is a larger share than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 7% of all eligible voters in Virginia and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. About one-quarter (24%) are of Mexican origin. Two-in-ten (22%) are Puerto Rican, 12% are Salvadoran, and 42% are of another Hispanic origin. By contrast, Hispanic eligible voters nationwide are 59% Mexican, 14% Puerto Rican, 3% Salvadoran, and 25% of another Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. Some 14% of Latino eligible voters in Virginia have not completed high school, higher than the 11% of all Virginia eligible voters who have not completed high school but lower than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. More than half of Hispanic eligible voters (57%) in Virginia live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Virginia (68%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Virginia, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia by a margin of 15 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters are outnumbered by black eligible voters by about 4 to 1, but Hispanics are about the same size as Asians among eligible voters.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Virginia. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 20% of white eligible voters, 25% of black eligible voters and 20% of Asian eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white and Asian eligible voters in Virginia, but higher levels than black eligible voters. Some 14% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 9% of white eligible voters, 16% of black eligible voters and 8% of Asian eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (57%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (52%) in Virginia, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (74%) or Asian (76%) eligible voters.