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| Puerto Ricans favour statehood, poll shows | Puerto Ricans favour statehood, poll shows |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Puerto Ricans have supported US statehood in a vote that jubilant members of the pro-statehood party say is the strongest sign yet that the Caribbean island territory is on the road to losing its second-class status. | Puerto Ricans have supported US statehood in a vote that jubilant members of the pro-statehood party say is the strongest sign yet that the Caribbean island territory is on the road to losing its second-class status. |
| But Tuesday's vote comes with a caveat: the island remains bitterly divided over its relationship to the US and many question the validity of this week's referendum. | But Tuesday's vote comes with a caveat: the island remains bitterly divided over its relationship to the US and many question the validity of this week's referendum. |
| Nearly half a million voters chose to leave a portion of the ballot blank, and voters also ousted the pro-statehood governor, eliminating one of the main advocates for a cause that would need the approval of the US Congress. | Nearly half a million voters chose to leave a portion of the ballot blank, and voters also ousted the pro-statehood governor, eliminating one of the main advocates for a cause that would need the approval of the US Congress. |
| "Statehood won a victory without precedent, but it's an artificial victory," said Angel Israel Rivera Ortiz, a political science professor at the University of Puerto Rico. "It reflects a divided and confused electorate that is not clear on where it's going." | "Statehood won a victory without precedent, but it's an artificial victory," said Angel Israel Rivera Ortiz, a political science professor at the University of Puerto Rico. "It reflects a divided and confused electorate that is not clear on where it's going." |
| President Barack Obama had said he would support the will of the Puerto Rican people on the question of the island's relationship to the US and this week's referendum was intended to be the barometer. | President Barack Obama had said he would support the will of the Puerto Rican people on the question of the island's relationship to the US and this week's referendum was intended to be the barometer. |
| But the results aren't so clear cut. It was a two-part ballot that first asked all voters if they favoured the current status as a US territory. Regardless of the answer, all voters then had the opportunity to choose in the second question from three options: statehood, independence or "sovereign free association", which would grant more autonomy to the island of nearly 4 million people. | But the results aren't so clear cut. It was a two-part ballot that first asked all voters if they favoured the current status as a US territory. Regardless of the answer, all voters then had the opportunity to choose in the second question from three options: statehood, independence or "sovereign free association", which would grant more autonomy to the island of nearly 4 million people. |
| More than 900,000 voters, or 54%, responded "no" to the first question, saying they were not content with the current status. | More than 900,000 voters, or 54%, responded "no" to the first question, saying they were not content with the current status. |
| On the second question, only about 1.3 million voters made a choice. Of those, nearly 800,000, or 61% of those expressing an opinion, chose statehood – the first majority after three previous referendums on the issue over the past 45 years. Some 437,000 backed sovereign free association and 72,560 chose independence. Nearly 500,000, however, left that question blank. | On the second question, only about 1.3 million voters made a choice. Of those, nearly 800,000, or 61% of those expressing an opinion, chose statehood – the first majority after three previous referendums on the issue over the past 45 years. Some 437,000 backed sovereign free association and 72,560 chose independence. Nearly 500,000, however, left that question blank. |
| "We made history with this plebiscite," said Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island's representative in Congress and a member of both the pro-statehood New Progressive party and the Democratic party. | "We made history with this plebiscite," said Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island's representative in Congress and a member of both the pro-statehood New Progressive party and the Democratic party. |
| The certified results will be sent to the White House and the congressional leadership, and it would be up to them to begin the process of possibly admitting Puerto Rico into the union. | The certified results will be sent to the White House and the congressional leadership, and it would be up to them to begin the process of possibly admitting Puerto Rico into the union. |
| "The ball is now in Congress' court and Congress will have to react to this result," Pierluisi said. "This is a clear result that says 'no' to the current status." | "The ball is now in Congress' court and Congress will have to react to this result," Pierluisi said. "This is a clear result that says 'no' to the current status." |
| Governor Luis Fortuño, a member of the pro-statehood party who is also a Republican, welcomed the results and said he was hopeful that Congress would take up the cause. | Governor Luis Fortuño, a member of the pro-statehood party who is also a Republican, welcomed the results and said he was hopeful that Congress would take up the cause. |
| But Fortuño won't be around to lead the fight: voters turned him out of office after one term, and gave the governorship to Alejandro García Padilla of the Popular Democratic party, which wants Puerto Rico to remain a semi-autonomous US commonwealth. | But Fortuño won't be around to lead the fight: voters turned him out of office after one term, and gave the governorship to Alejandro García Padilla of the Popular Democratic party, which wants Puerto Rico to remain a semi-autonomous US commonwealth. |
| García has pledged to hold a constitutional assembly in 2014 to address the island's status, followed by another referendum with support from Congress. | García has pledged to hold a constitutional assembly in 2014 to address the island's status, followed by another referendum with support from Congress. |
| Puerto Rico has been a territory for 114 years and its people have been US citizens since 1917. Residents of the island cannot vote in the US presidential election, have no representation in the Senate and only limited representation in the House of Representatives. | Puerto Rico has been a territory for 114 years and its people have been US citizens since 1917. Residents of the island cannot vote in the US presidential election, have no representation in the Senate and only limited representation in the House of Representatives. |
| It's a situation that frustrates many, as does the long-simmering political uncertainty. Independence was once the dominant political movement on the island but no longer: only 6% of voters opted to sever ties from the US, a prospect that scared voters like 31-year-old José Ramos. | It's a situation that frustrates many, as does the long-simmering political uncertainty. Independence was once the dominant political movement on the island but no longer: only 6% of voters opted to sever ties from the US, a prospect that scared voters like 31-year-old José Ramos. |
| "I prefer that the United States helps us, because to stand on our own two feet, no," said the father of three. "I don't want this to become a republic. That scares me." | "I prefer that the United States helps us, because to stand on our own two feet, no," said the father of three. "I don't want this to become a republic. That scares me." |
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