Nebraska's small but growing Latino population and its views on the immigration debate could play a role in the state's gubernatorial race.

Democrat Chuck Hassebrook and Republican Pete Ricketts have opposing views on whether undocumented immigrant youths should be denied a driver's license even if they are eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program initiated by President Barack Obama in 2012, which prevents young people who meet certain criteria from being deported.

Nebraska's current laws deny DACA-qualified individuals from obtaining a driver's license. State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist, however, said he plans on introducing legislation to reverse the state's policy. If Nordquist's bill passes, it could require signature of the next Nebraskan governor, either Hassebrook or Ricketts.

In July, Nordquist said there was "no policy justification" for the ban, but "just a political position." According to Nebraska Radio Network, Nebraska is the only state that bans undocumented immigrants from receiving a driver's license.

"It just makes sense for them to be able to participate fully in our economy, and it's much more difficult for them to do so without the ability to drive," Nordquist said, via the Associated Press. "Right now, they have 49 other options -- they can take their educations and go to any other state in the country."

According to U.S. census estimates, nearly 10 percent of Nebraska's population is Latino. The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Center for Public Affairs Research reported Latinos will represent 24.1 percent of the Nebraskan population by 2050.

"It means that Hispanics and Latinos are the main engine of population growth not only in the country and in the state," said UNO Office of Latino/Latin American Studies' Research Associate Lissette Aliaga-Linares for the study's release in 2013.

The research coordinator for the study, David Drozd, noted that the population increase is based on "natural change" and not necessarily immigration.

Based on polling data from CBS News, New York Times and YouGov, Ricketts has an 8-point advantage over Hassebrook, 49 percent to 41 percent. Among Hispanics, Hassebrook is the favored candidate at 50 percent, while an additional 32 percent "lean toward" the Democratic candidate. Hispanic support for Ricketts was 18 percent.

In 2009, Nebraska also passed legislation that banned state taxpayer benefits or state employment for undocumented immigrants.