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

Population and Electorate in the United States and Nevada, 2012
  • The Hispanic population in Nevada is the 14th largest in the nation. About 753,000 Hispanics reside in Nevada, 1.4% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Nevada’s population is 27% Hispanic, the fifth largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
  • There are 291,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada—the 13th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
  • Some 16% of Nevada eligible voters are Hispanic, the sixth largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
  • Some 39% of Hispanics in Nevada are eligible to vote, ranking Nevada 33rd nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 81% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Nevada and the United States, 2012
  • Age. Some 36% of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada are ages 18 to 29, somewhat higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Nevada eligible voters (21%) and of all U.S. eligible voters (22%) in that age range.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada, 30% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is higher than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. Just 12% of all eligible voters in Nevada and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Some 70% of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada are of Mexican origin, 5% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 25% 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 (26%) in Nevada have not completed high school, more than twice the 11% of all Nevada eligible voters who have not completed high school and higher than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada (53%) live in owner-occupied homes, lower than the 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Nevada (59%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Nevada, by Race and Ethnicity

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Nevada and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012
  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Nevada by 4 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters outnumber black and Asian eligible voters by about 2 to 1 each.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Nevada. Some 36% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 17% of white eligible voters, 26% of black eligible voters and 17% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white, black and Asian eligible voters in Nevada. Some 26% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 8% of white eligible voters, 15% of black eligible voters and 9% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (53%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (35%) in Nevada, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (64%) or Asian (61%) eligible voters.