Latinos in the 2014 Election: Michigan

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

• The Hispanic population in Michigan is the 20th largest in the nation. About 452,000 Hispanics reside in Michigan, 0.9% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Michigan’s population is 5% Hispanic, the 38th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 213,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan—the 18th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
• Some 3% of Michigan eligible voters are Hispanic, the 34th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 47% of Hispanics in Michigan are eligible to vote, ranking Michigan 18th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 78% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are ages 18 to 29, about the same as 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 and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan, 11% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is less than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 4% of all eligible voters in Michigan and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some 71% of Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan are of Mexican origin, 12% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 17% 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. Some two-in-ten Latino eligible voters in Michigan have not completed high school, twice the 10% of all Michigan eligible voters who have not completed high school and less than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan (63%) live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Michigan (74%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Michigan, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Michigan by nearly 28 to 1, and blacks outnumber Hispanics by 5 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Michigan. Some 33% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 19% of white eligible voters, 25% of black eligible voters and 26% of Asian eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in Michigan. Some 20% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 9% of white eligible voters, 17% of black eligible voters and 11% of Asian eligible voters. Hispanic (15%) and black (14%) eligible voters are less likely than white (25%) and Asian (50%) eligible voters to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (63%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (48%) in Michigan, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white or Asian (both 79%) eligible voters.