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As of the latest updates with nearly 10% of the ballots counted on Tuesday, early indications suggested that the statehood choice was ahead in the status referendum conducted alongside the 2024 general election, with varied results emerging in the at-large House and Senate races.
At that point, statehood garnered 57% of the votes, followed by the independence option at 33.2%. The free association choice received 9.62% of the ballots.
This status vote allowed voters to communicate their aspirations for decolonization. The non-binding plebiscite presented the options of statehood, independence, or free association in accordance with international law. Free association enables a former colony to attain distinct independence while establishing a revocable power-sharing agreement with another nation.
However, only the U.S. Congress possesses the authority to modify Puerto Rico’s current status.
Puerto Rico cannot be incorporated as a state within the union unless Congress permits it.
Residents of Puerto Rico do not have the right to vote for U.S. senators, representatives, or the president of the United States. As a U.S. territory, the island is represented by a non-voting resident commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the meantime, with over 10% of votes accounted for in the at-large House election, prominent figures such as Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Rep. Héctor Ferrer, Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Rep. Denis Márquez, PDP candidates Swanny Enit Vargas, Gabriel López, and Ramón Torres, New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. José “Pichy” Torres, NPP Rep. Lourdes Ramos, NPP Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló, Dignity Project Rep. Lisie Burgos, NPP Rep. José Pérez, and NPP Rep. Tatiana Pérez were competing for the 11 available positions. Following closely were experienced NPP Rep. José Aponte and independent candidate Luis Raúl Torres.
Additionally, with more than 10% of the votes tallied, PIP Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago, PDP candidate Luis Javier Hernández, NPP Sen. Thomas Rivera Schatz, PDP Sen. José Luis Dalmau, former Comerio Mayor José Josian Santiago of the PDP, PDP candidate Ada Alvarez Conde, Dignity Project Sen. Joanne Rodríguez, NPP candidates Ángel Toledo López, Roxanna Soto, NPP Sen. Gregorio Matias, and NPP candidate Leyda Cruz were contending for the 11 at-large spots in the upper chamber. NPP Sen. Keren Riquelme and independent candidate José Vargas Vidot were lagging behind.
