This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Colorado.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Colorado’s Eligible Voter Population

  • The Hispanic population in Colorado is the eighth largest in the nation.4 About 1 million Hispanics reside in Colorado, 2.1% of all Hispanics in the United States.
  • Colorado’s population is 21% Hispanic, the seventh largest Hispanic population share nationally.
  • There are 484,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado—the ninth largest Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
  • Some 14% of Colorado eligible voters are Hispanic, the seventh largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
  • About 46% of Hispanics in Colorado are eligible to vote, ranking Colorado 14th 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

  • Age. One-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado (31%) are ages 18 to 29, similar to the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all Colorado eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
  • Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado, 12% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S., but just 5% of all eligible voters in Colorado and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
  • Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. Seven-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado are of Mexican origin, 3% are of Puerto Rican origin, and 27% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, only six-in-ten (59%) are Mexican, 14% are Puerto Rican, and about a quarter (26%) are of some other Hispanic origin.
  • Educational Attainment. One-quarter of Latino eligible voters in Colorado (23%) have not completed high school, almost triple the 8% of all Colorado eligible voters who have not completed high school.
  • Homeownership. Nearly six-in-ten Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado live in owner-occupied homes, similar to the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (both 58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Colorado and all eligible voters nationwide (both 69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Colorado, by Race and Ethnicity

  • Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Colorado by more than 5 to 1; Hispanic eligible voters outnumber black eligible voters by almost 4 to 1 and Asian eligible voters by about 7 to 1.
  • Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than black, Asian and white eligible voters in Colorado. Some 31% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 24% of black eligible voters, 23% of Asian eligible voters and 20% of white eligible voters.
  • Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of education than do black, Asian and white eligible voters in Colorado. Some 23% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma, compared with 12% of black eligible voters, 10% of Asian eligible voters and 5% of white eligible voters.
  • Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (58%) are more likely to live in owner-occupied homes than black (44%) eligible voters in Colorado, but they are less likely to do so than Asian (75%) or white (72%) eligible voters in Colorado.