A US island with millions of Hispanics cannot vote

This is the story of US-owned territories that the US does not recognize fully.

At a Trump rally in New York a few days ago, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “an island of garbage floating in the middle of the ocean,” which incensed the Puerto Rican community, the second largest Hispanic group in the US. Puerto Rico also made headlines. Hispanic voters could number in the millions on the US territory. They will be unable to vote in the presidential election, and this is not an isolated case.

Yes/no Puerto Rico. Actually, it depends on where you live. Puerto Ricans cannot vote, but Americans can.

The second group has 5.8 million people, compared to 3.2 million. The Puerto Rican vote is crucial in Pennsylvania. The Hunter College Center for Puerto Rican Studies estimates 3.1% of voters are Boricuas, Puerto Rican descendents, or natives. The case is worth studying, but not unique.

Second-class residents. The truth is that several million American citizens in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands cannot vote in presidential elections despite being citizens and paying federal taxes.

The lack of representation in Puerto Rico makes residents feel like second-class citizens, causing resentment.

Electoral College. The U.S. Constitution’s Electoral College elects president. This system assigns electors to states and D.C. based on congressional representation. The “problem” is that the territories are not represented in this process and do not vote in the presidential election.

Washington, DC received this right with the 23rd Amendment in 1961, but the territories did not. The territories’ residents can vote in party-organized presidential primaries but not general elections. Moving to one of the 50 states and registering to vote lets citizens vote in the presidential election.

Honoring Washington’s decision. The president and Congress’s actions directly affect these territories’ residents (who cannot vote), as shown by Donald Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria or the Obama administration’s fiscal control board. The territories’ residents have no say in these decisions. Frustration and helplessness result.

Recognition and representation struggles. Right to Democracy is fighting for more power in the territories, where 98% of the population is black. Charles Ala’ilima of American Samoa suggests a referendum for residents to decide if they want to be part of the US permanently, followed by legal reforms to integrate them into national politics.

As with Washington DC, some propose constitutional amendments to grant territories electoral college votes, but statehood efforts have been slow and always face congressional obstacles. It is curious because enclaves like Puerto Rico, with a population larger than five states, have not made significant progress.

Desire for autonomy. A natural progression for a large mass. Discontent has some Puerto Ricans considering independence. Territory residents will vote in their seventh non-binding referendum on their status, including partial and full independence versus statehood, in the upcoming elections.

A US island with millions of Hispanics cannot vote

This is the story of US-owned territories that the US does not recognize fully.

By nr39r

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