Latinos in the 2014 Election: Wisconsin

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

• The Hispanic population in Wisconsin is the 25th largest in the nation. About 353,000 Hispanics reside in Wisconsin, 0.7% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Wisconsin’s population is 6% Hispanic, the 31st largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 135,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin—the 24th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 3% of Wisconsin eligible voters are Hispanic, the 31st largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 38% of Hispanics in Wisconsin are eligible to vote, ranking Wisconsin 36th 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 four-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin (37%) are ages 18 to 29, somewhat higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Wisconsin eligible voters (20%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin, 16% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is a smaller share than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 2% of all eligible voters in Wisconsin and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin have a similar Hispanic origin profile to Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Fully 61% of Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin are of Mexican origin, 20% are Puerto Rican, and 18% are of another Hispanic origin. Among Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, 59% are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and 27% are of some other Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. Some two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Wisconsin have not completed high school, about twice the 9% of all Wisconsin eligible voters who have not completed high school but a smaller share than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin (48%) live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Wisconsin (71%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Wisconsin, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Wisconsin by 28 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters (135,000) are outnumbered by black eligible voters (236,000), but Hispanics more than double the number of Asian eligible voters in Wisconsin (59,000).
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white and black eligible voters in Wisconsin. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 19% of white eligible voters and 30% of black eligible voters. About the same share of Hispanic and Asian eligible voters are ages 18 to 29 (37% vs. 41%).
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white eligible voters in Wisconsin. Some 20% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 7% of white eligible voters. Hispanic eligible voters’ levels of high school education are about on par with black eligible voters (22%) and Asian eligible voters (17%). However, a slightly larger share of Hispanic eligible voters (15%) than black eligible voters (12%) in Wisconsin have at least bachelor’s degree, while 27% of both white and Asian eligible voters have a bachelor’s degree or more.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (48%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (32%) in Wisconsin, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (74%) or Asian (62%) eligible voters.