This statistical profile provides key demographic information of Latino eligible voters in Michigan.1 It also contains data on other major groups of eligible voters in Michigan.2 All data are based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Michigan’s Eligible Voter Population

  • The Hispanic population in Michigan is the 19th-largest in the nation. Some 409,000 Hispanics reside in Michigan.
  • The population in Michigan is 4% Hispanic, the 36th-highest Hispanic population share nationally.
  • There are 183,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Michigan—the 15th-largest Hispanic eligible-voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.4 million.
  • Some 2% of eligible voters in Michigan are Latinos, the 31st-largest Hispanic eligible voter population share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 38%.
  • Less than half (45%) of Latinos in Michigan are eligible to vote, ranking Michigan 19th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. In contrast, 77% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

  • Age. Three-in-ten of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan (31%) are ages 18 to 29, equal to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide in that age range. By contrast, only 21% of all Michigan eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship. More than one-in-ten of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan (12%) are naturalized U.S. citizens, compared with 4% of all Michigan eligible voters. Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are more likely to be native-born citizens (88%) than are Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (74%).
  • Educational Attainment. One-quarter of Latino eligible voters in Michigan (24%) have not completed high school. That was less than the rate for all Latino eligible voters—26%—but greater than the rate for U.S. eligible voters nationwide—13%.
  • Homeownership. Two-thirds of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan (67%) live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 60% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Somewhat greater shares of all eligible voters in Michigan (76%) and all eligible voters nationwide (70%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Michigan, by Race and Ethnicity

  • Number of Latino Eligible Voters. Latino eligible voters are outnumbered by black eligible voters in Michigan by more than 5 to 1—183,000 Latinos to 973,000 blacks.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black and white eligible voters in Michigan. Three-in-ten of Latino eligible voters in Michigan (31%) are ages 18 to 29 compared with 25% of black eligible voters and 20% of white eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white and black eligible voters in Michigan. Some 24% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained at least a high school diploma compared with 19% of black eligible voters and 10% of white eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are less likely than white eligible voters, but more likely than black eligible voters, to live in owner-occupied homes—67% versus 81% and 50%, respectively.