Latinos in the 2012 Election: Idaho

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

• The Hispanic population in Idaho ranks 34th in the nation.⁴ About 177,000 Hispanics reside in Idaho, 0.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.
• Idaho’s population is 11% Hispanic, the 16th largest Hispanic population share nationally.
• There are 69,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho—ranking 32nd in Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
• Some 6% of Idaho eligible voters are Hispanic, the 16th largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
• Nearly four-in-ten (39%) Hispanics in Idaho are eligible to vote, ranking Idaho 26th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, about three-quarters (74%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

• Age. More than one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho (37%) are ages 18 to 29, slightly higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all Idaho eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.
• Citizenship and Nativity. Among Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho, 18% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. and just 3% of all eligible voters in Idaho and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.
• Hispanic Origin. Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. More than eight-in-ten (84%) Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho are of Mexican origin, 4% of Puerto Rican origin and 12% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, a smaller share (59%) are Mexican, a larger share (14%) are Puerto Rican, and about a quarter (26%) are of some other Hispanic origin.
• Educational Attainment. Nearly three-in-ten of Latino eligible voters in Idaho (28%) have not completed high school, almost triple the 10% of all Idaho eligible voters who have not completed high school.
• Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho (51%) live in owner-occupied homes, less than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Idaho (72%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Idaho, by Race and Ethnicity

• Number of Eligible Voters. White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho by more than 14 to 1.
• Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white eligible voters in Idaho. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 21% of white eligible voters.
• Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white eligible voters in Idaho. Some 28% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma compared with 9% of white eligible voters.
• Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (51%) are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white eligible voters (74%) in Idaho.