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Puerto Rico status referenda

While voting in all elections in Puerto Rico, even those for local governance are influenced by the status determination forwarded by individual parties; there have been three referenda (plebiscites) exploring voter opinions regarding Puerto Rico’s future status vis-à-vis the United States federal government (1967, 1993, and 1998) (1). An additional referendum in 1991 sought to amend the relationship through a amendment to the Puerto Rican constitution. It must be remembered that the supreme determination of Puerto Rico is dictated by the US constitution, which grants ultimate governance of territories to the federal government. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico") status was formulated in 1952 by a local constitutional convention, shepherded by the Popular Democratic Party and highly respected governor Luis Munoz Marin, and approved by the US congress. Thus, the plebiscite decisions, while they bear special weight because they reflect public sentiment, they are not binding upon the sovereignty of the U.S. Congress. Ultimately, Puerto Rican plebiscite results are opinions, and the future of the island is externally dictated. While this may seem arbitrary for a democratic country, it must be remembered that none of the plebiscites has forcefully supported an agenda of change. Congressional resolutions have expressed support for following the will of the Puerto Rican people.

In general, three main alternatives are contemplated by Puerto Ricans in status plebiscites: full independence, maintenance or enhancement of commonwealth status, and full statehood. The exact expectations for each of these status formulas is a matter of debate within adherents and for detractors. There are many sites that describe the desired alternatives (2), many of these describe positions favorable to Puerto Rico such as
  1. Statehood with a gradual phasing out of federal tax exemption
  2. Expanded political but not fiscal autonomy
  3. Indemnified Independence with phased out fiscal subsidy

The exact significance of referendum results is debated by local observers. The 1967 results showed strong support for commonwealth, but were followed by the loss of governership by the Popular Democratic Party, the main supporter of commonwealth association. The 1991 results appear to protest the ideas or forum used to change status as imposed by the then ruling Popular Democratic Party; the demands were controversial because there was no assurance, and great doubt, that they would be actualized by congress. The 1998 results (none of the above was the winner) protested criteria set forth by the then ruling New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico. In general, one can observe that:
  1. Electoral turnout is high.
  2. Only a small minority has voted for Puerto Rican Independence
  3. Statehood sentiment, while increasing, is not favored by the majority.
  4. There is little momentum to change the status quo, given the absence of sustained supermajorities.

It is probably still timely to quote former governor Luis Munoz Marin in 1954, two years after the founding of the commonwealth arrangement : "Puerto Rico does not ask for statehood; Puerto Rico dos not claim independence; Puerto Rico is resolutely opposed to colonialism. In other words: Puerto Rico is developing a new type of political liberty."

Electoral results for Puerto Rican Status Referenda

Recorded as number of votes/1000 (% total)

1967 1993 1998
Independence 4.2 (1%) 75.6 (4) 39.8 (2.5%)
Commonwealth 425.1 (60%) 826.3 (49) 5.0 (0.5%)
Statehood 274.3 (39%) 788.3 (46) 728.2 (46%)
None of the above / / 787.9 (50%)
Electoral turnout () (74%) 71%)


The 1991 Referendum over the Claim to Democratic Rights asked for a guarantee in the local constitution, that the following be guaranteed:

  1. The inalienable right to freely and democratically choose our status
  2. The right to choose a dignified, non-colonial, non-territorial status not subordinate to plenary powers of Congress
  3. The right to vote for three alternatives
  4. The right that only results with a majority will be considered triumphant in a plebiscite
  5. The right that any status consult guarantee Puerto Rico’s culture, language and identity and independent participation in international sports events
  6. That any status consult guarantee under any alternative the individual’s right to American citizenship.


This result constitutes a claim for the government of Puerto Rico to consecrate these in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico constitution and petition the President and Congress for these rights.
  • Yes 559.2 (45%)
  • No 660.3 (53%)

Bibliography

  1. http://electionspuertorico.org/
  2. http://www.lasculturas.com/lib/libBoricuaStatus.htm
Last updated: 05-23-2005 14:26:32