Puerto Rican voters back statehood in questioned referendum
Source: AP via msn.com
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico's governor announced that the U.S. territory has overwhelmingly chosen statehood in a nonbinding referendum Sunday held amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus of islanders to the U.S. mainland.
Nearly half a million votes were cast for statehood, more than 7,600 for free association/independence and nearly 6,700 for the current territorial status, according to preliminary results. The participation rate was just 23 percent with roughly 2.26 million registered voters, leading opponents to question the validity of a vote that several parties had boycotted.
"From today going forward, the federal government will no longer be able to ignore the voice of the majority of the American citizens in Puerto Rico," Gov. Ricardo Rossello said, announcing the victory. "It would be highly contradictory for Washington to demand democracy in other parts of the world, and not respond to the legitimate right to self-determination that was exercised today in the American territory of Puerto Rico."
U.S. Congress, however, has final say in any changes to the island's political status.
Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/puerto-rican-voters-back-statehood-in-questioned-referendum/ar-BBCv8xW?li=BBnb7Kz
I'm not sure if this means much but it is interesting to note.
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stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)
Mosby
(16,358 posts)And something needs to be done about DC.
The Dakotas get 4 senators, but Puerto Rico and DC get none. This is monumental R voter suppression, always has been.
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)My understanding is that Puerto Ricans have never been terribly enthusiastic about statehood, and this referendum doesn't really change that much, since only 23% of the voting population voted for statehood.
I know the Rs would probably be against the idea of PR becoming a state, but I'm not wild about forcing PR becoming a state w/o the consent of it's people.
Igel
(35,359 posts)And who knew Republicans were around when the District of Columbia was established.
As another DUer put it, people have the memory of fruits flies. And apparently didn't pay attention in history or government class in high school, if they had had. Res ipsa loquitur.
Moreover ... 23% turnout. Because, probably, it's non-binding.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)He gets out of jail and now Puerto Rico wants to be state. Now that is ironic.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)garnered more than 7% of the total vote.
This isn't the first time Puerto Ricans have voted for statehood, they also did so in 2012. The question was on that year's gubernatorial ballot and turnout much higher than for yesterday's non-binding election. The results were voided because of the way the question was asked...twice on the ballot and both questions had to be responded to. If a voter only answered the question once, their vote was not counted.
Currently, PR is governed by the New Progressive Party (NPP), which is allied with our GOP. The Governor, the Resident Commissioner (PR's non-voting member of Congress), two-thirds of PR's Senate and the House of Representatives are under the control of the NPP. The New Progressive Party's platform is statehood.
The Popular Democratic Party (PDP) is allied with our Democratic Party and does not favor statehood, but rather, the status quo.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)Very odd
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)Many people boycotted the second question because they thought there should be an option to renegotiate their status other than full statehood or full independence.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)Do nothing?
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)Yes
stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)And it remains over 600,000 residents (more than live in Montana) who have no senators and no floor vote in the House.
stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)and 600K DC residents also without that access...that's always seemed to me a pretty dramatic (agree my word monumental probably hyperbolic...but 4Mplus is beaucoup)suppression of voting rights, especially since those voters are majority voters of color...i.e. democratic leaning. I'm not saying that PR voters should be forced to become a state, but that if they remain part of the US, these are voters who should finally have access to equal representation and equal rights.
In my long lifetime the Rs have never been anything but opposed to PR or DC gaining fair electoral representation. Maybe that is why such a low voter turnout on the issue, not only from those who want independence but also those who think the path to statehood isn't possible because Republicans will never support it.
Right now Puerto Rico is in limbo between two solutions to its economic quagmire (can't pay its WS debts in its own currency as a country and can't declare bankruptcy as a state) I suspect that was the reason those who did turn out voted for statehood. Not because they see it as possible, or even prefer it to independence, but rather to make a public declaration against their lack of access to bankruptcy provided every US state.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)Yet PR path to statehood (and the right to declare bankruptcy) still seems improbable. R's have always opposed it bkz it likely increases the Dem Senate count. And fire and brimstone R's hardly would be swayed by PR's current economic torment and support their statehood or just mercifully extend PR a single instance right to bankruptcy. Both WS and R's have that "make whole" fetish thing when debts are owed to them or their ilk...unless they are owed by the 1% (like expatriated untaxed profits) or by their serial bankruptcy finesser in chief.
treestar
(82,383 posts)The lack of enthusiasm is no one's problem but theirs.
Goprox
(78 posts)Don't you think?
BumRushDaShow
(129,491 posts)Now they'll have to stand in line with D.C. and since it would probably mean more Democrats, it'll never happen under this congress.
Igel
(35,359 posts)I mean, really. 23% turnout. A majority of less than 1/4 of the electorate gets to decide for 100% of the population? If it passed, 100-0, it would still be 1/4 of the population deciding for the other 77%.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)DC and PR are very different situations.
PR needs a majority vote in congress and a presidential signature. DC needs 2/3 vote in congress and 3/4 states ratification.
nycbos
(6,038 posts)
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)
Judi Lynn
(160,630 posts)Low Turnout Votes For US Statehood
JUN
2017 Tuesday 13TH
PUERTO RICO’S governor claimed victory on Sunday night after voters backed US statehood — but on a 23 per cent turnout.
Governor Ricardo Rossello told some 200 supporters in the capital San Juan: “The United States of America will have to obey the will of our people!”
The US Congress, the only body which can approve a new state, will now decide whether to change the status of the Caribbean island colony.
More than 500,000 people backed becoming the 51st US state in Sunday’s non-binding plebiscite. Some 7,800 favoured the option of free association or independence and 6,800 preferred the status quo.
More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7a27-Low-turnout-votes-for-US-statehood#.WT9TB5DyvIU
