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

Population and Electorate in the United States and Virginia, 2012
  • The Hispanic population in Virginia is the 15th largest in the nation. About 687,000 Hispanics reside in Virginia, 1.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Virginia’s population is 8% Hispanic, the 28th largest Hispanic statewide population share nationally.
  • There are 271,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia—the 15th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 6.4 million.
  • Some 5% of Virginia eligible voters are Hispanic, the 24th largest Hispanic statewide eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 40%.
  • Some 39% of Hispanics in Virginia are eligible to vote, ranking Virginia 31st nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, 79% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Virginia and the United States, 2012
  • Age. About one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia (37%) are ages 18 to 29, higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) and the share of all Virginia eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters (both 22%) in that age range.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia, 34% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This is a larger share than the 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 7% of all eligible voters in Virginia and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S. overall are naturalized U.S. citizens.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. About one-quarter (24%) are of Mexican origin. Two-in-ten (22%) are Puerto Rican, 12% are Salvadoran, and 42% are of another Hispanic origin. By contrast, Hispanic eligible voters nationwide are 59% Mexican, 14% Puerto Rican, 3% Salvadoran, and 25% of another Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. Some 14% of Latino eligible voters in Virginia have not completed high school, higher than the 11% of all Virginia eligible voters who have not completed high school but lower than the 23% of Hispanics nationwide who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. More than half of Hispanic eligible voters (57%) in Virginia live in owner-occupied homes, compared with 56% of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Greater shares of all eligible voters in Virginia (68%) and eligible voters nationwide (67%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Virginia, by Race and Ethnicity

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Virginia and the United States, by Race and Ethnicity, 2012
  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Virginia by a margin of 15 to 1. Hispanic eligible voters are outnumbered by black eligible voters by about 4 to 1, but Hispanics are about the same size as Asians among eligible voters.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white, black and Asian eligible voters in Virginia. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 20% of white eligible voters, 25% of black eligible voters and 20% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do white and Asian eligible voters in Virginia, but higher levels than black eligible voters. Some 14% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 9% of white eligible voters, 16% of black eligible voters and 8% of Asian eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (57%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black eligible voters (52%) in Virginia, but are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white (74%) or Asian (76%) eligible voters.