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

  • The Hispanic population in California is the largest in the nation.4 About 14.1 million Hispanics reside in California, 27.8% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • California’s population is 38% Hispanic, the third highest Hispanic population share nationally.
  • There are 5.9 million Hispanic eligible voters in California—the largest Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. Texas ranks second with 4.2 million.
  • Some 26% of California eligible voters are Hispanic, the third largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
  • About 42% of Hispanics in California are eligible to vote, ranking California 20th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

  • Age. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in California (35%) are ages 18 to 29, similar to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 24% of all California eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in California, 28% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. and 20% of all eligible voters in California, but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in California have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. More than eight-in-ten (81%) of Hispanic eligible voters in California are of Mexican origin, 4% are of Salvadoran origin, and 15% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, only six-in-ten (59%) are Mexican, 2% are Salvadoran, and nearly four-in-ten (38%) are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. More than one-quarter of Latino eligible voters in California (26%) have not completed high school, about double the 13% of all California eligible voters who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. Nearly six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in California (57%) live in owner-occupied homes, similar to the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Somewhat greater shares of all eligible voters in California (62%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in California, by Race and Ethnicity

  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in California by about 2 to 1; Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1 and black eligible voters by more than 3 to 1.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black, Asian and white eligible voters in California. Some 35% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 24% of black eligible voters, 21% of Asian eligible voters and 18% of white eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white, Asian and black eligible voters in California. Some 26% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained at least a high school diploma, compared with 13% of black eligible voters, 12% of Asian eligible voters and 7% of white eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (57%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black (40%) eligible voters in California, but they are less likely to do so than Asian (67%) or white (66%) eligible voters in California.