June 12, 2017 •
Puerto Ricans Vote on Issue of Statehood
Puerto Ricans went to the polls Sunday to vote on whether Puerto Rico should become America’s 51st state. Voters chose between remaining a commonwealth, becoming a state, or gaining sovereignty with an official affiliation with the United States. Critics viewed […]
Puerto Ricans went to the polls Sunday to vote on whether Puerto Rico should become America’s 51st state. Voters chose between remaining a commonwealth, becoming a state, or gaining sovereignty with an official affiliation with the United States.
Critics viewed the election as flawed, arguing the ballot language was skewed to favor the pro-statehood New Progressive Party. Ninety-seven percent of ballots cast were in favor of statehood.
However, on an island averaging roughly 80 percent voter turnout, only 23 percent of registered voters participated in Sunday’s election.
Nevertheless, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló plans to take the referendum results to Washington, D.C. and speak with Congress, the White House, and various agencies regarding admitting Puerto Rico to the union.
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