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 Research Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey.³

Hispanics in California’s Eligible Voter Population

• The Hispanic population in California is the largest in the nation. About 14.5 million Hispanics reside in California, 27.5% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• California’s population is 38% Hispanic, the second highest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
• There are 6.4 million Hispanic eligible voters in California—the largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. Texas ranks second with 4.5 million.
• Some 27% of California eligible voters are Hispanic, the third largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
• Some 44% of Hispanics in California are eligible to vote, ranking California 24th 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. About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in California (36%) are ages 18 to 29, slightly higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all California eligible voters (24%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in California, 27% are naturalized U.S. citizens, higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Some 20% of all eligible voters in California—but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall—are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Hispanic Origin. Among Hispanic eligible voters in California, 27% are naturalized U.S. citizens, higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Some 20% of all eligible voters in California—but just 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall—are naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Educational Attainment. About one-quarter of Latino eligible voters in California (24%) have not completed high school, double the 12% of all California eligible voters who have not completed high school and slightly higher than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. Over half of Hispanic eligible voters in California (54%) live in owner-occupied homes, a little lower than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (56%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in California (60%) and all eligible voters nationwide (67%) 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 about 4 to 1.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, Asian and black eligible voters in California. Some 36% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 18% of white eligible voters, 21% of Asian eligible voters and 24% of black eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in California. Some 24% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 6% of white eligible voters and 12% of both Asian and black eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (54%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (39%) in California, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (65%) or Asian (67%) eligible voters.