{"id":20126,"date":"2016-02-03T07:00:57","date_gmt":"2016-02-03T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/2016-electorate-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-u-s-history\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:46:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:46:06","slug":"2016-electorate-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-u-s-history","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2016\/02\/03\/2016-electorate-will-be-the-most-diverse-in-u-s-history\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 electorate will be the most diverse in U.S. history"},"content":{"rendered":"

The U.S. electorate this year will be the country\u2019s most racially and ethnically diverse ever. Nearly one-in-three eligible voters on Election Day (31%) will be Hispanic, black, Asian or another racial or ethnic minority, up from 29% in 2012. Much of this change is due to strong growth among Hispanic eligible voters<\/a>, in particular U.S.-born youth.<\/p>\n\n

An analysis of changes in the nation\u2019s eligible voting population \u2013 U.S. citizens ages 18 and older \u2013 offers a preview of profound U.S. demographic shifts that are projected to continue<\/a> for decades to come. While the nation\u2019s 156 million non-Hispanic white eligible voters in 2016 far outnumber the 70 million eligible voters that are racial or ethnic minorities, their growth lags that of minority groups. As a result, the non-Hispanic white share of the electorate has fallen from 71% in 2012 to 69%.<\/p>\n\n

\"Whites<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

There are 10.7 million more eligible voters today than there were in 2012. More than two-thirds of net growth in the U.S. electorate during this time has come from racial and ethnic minorities. Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities had a net increase of 7.5 million eligible voters, compared with a net increase of 3.2 million among non-Hispanic white eligible voters.<\/p>\n\n

The growth among non-Hispanic white eligible voters has been slower than among racial or ethnic minorities in large part because they are overrepresented in deaths due to an aging population<\/a>. Non-Hispanic whites make up 69% of U.S. eligible voters, but accounted for 76% of all eligible voters who died (6.6 million of 8.7 million) between 2012 and 2016.<\/p>\n\n

\"2016<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Another reason growth has lagged among non-Hispanic white eligible voters is that they\u2019re underrepresented among young people born in the U.S. who turn 18 \u2013 the group most responsible for the nation\u2019s growth in eligible voters. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for 57% of the 16 million new eligible voters who turned 18 between 2012 and 2016. By comparison, racial ethnic minorities \u2013 who make up 31% of the electorate \u2013 accounted for 43% of new eligible voters born in the U.S. who turned 18.<\/p>\n\n

Unlike other groups, most growth in the Asian electorate has come from naturalizations \u2013 immigrants becoming U.S. citizens. Since 2012, 60% of new Asian eligible voters have gained the right to vote by this means. By comparison, 26% of new Hispanic eligible voters came from naturalizations during this time.<\/p>\n\n

While the U.S. electorate is growing more diverse, there\u2019s a caveat when it comes to the impact of these changes: the relatively low voter turnout rates among Hispanics and Asians. In the 2012 presidential election, 64% of non-Hispanic white eligible voters cast ballots, as did 67% of black eligible voters. By comparison, the voter turnout rate was 48% among Hispanics and 47% among Asians.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly one-in-three eligible voters on Election Day (31%) will be Hispanic, black, Asian or another racial or ethnic 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