Latinos in the 2014 Election: Indiana

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

• The Hispanic population in Indiana is the 21st largest in the nation. About 409,000 Hispanics reside in Indiana, 0.8% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Indiana’s population is 6% Hispanic, the 30th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 156,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana—the 22nd largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 3% of Indiana eligible voters are Hispanic, the 30th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 38% of Hispanics in Indiana are eligible to vote, ranking Indiana 37th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 77% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana (35%) are ages 18 to 29, about the same as the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 21% of all Indiana eligible voters and 22% of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana, 17% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is less than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but greater than the 2% of all eligible voters in Indiana and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some seven-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana are of Mexican origin, 14% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 16% 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. About one-quarter of Latino eligible voters in Indiana (24%) have not completed high school, twice the 12% of all Indiana 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 Indiana (62%) live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Indiana (71%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Indiana, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Indiana by about 26 to 1, and black eligible voters outnumber Hispanics by nearly 3 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by more than 3 to 1.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Indiana. Some 35% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 20% of white eligible voters, 26% of black eligible voters and 21% of Asian eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in Indiana. Some 24% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 11% of white eligible voters, 18% of black eligible voters and 8% of Asian eligible voters. Similar shares of Hispanics and blacks have at least a bachelor’s degree (14%), but larger shares of whites (22%) and Asians (44%) have a bachelor’s degree or more.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (62%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (43%) in Indiana, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (75%) or Asian (74%) eligible voters.