U.S. citizens with the "the right to vote" but who are not "allowed to vote" for president
This election is very important for a lot of people and individuals. Personally for me, voting today had a very special meaning, and it is not because of who I voted for... it is because I was able to excersise my right to vote for president for the first time. You see, not every U.S. citizen can vote for President. The right to vote is granted to all U.S. citizens but to be allowed to vote depends on where you claim your residency.
Before moving to the states (or the mainland), I lived in Puerto Rico, a non-incorporated territory of the United States. Any person like me, who has been born in Puerto Rico is a U.S. citizen. The currency which is used is the U.S. dollar, the chief executive is the President of the United States, and all federal laws apply. The island government cannot sign international treaties nor have delegations to world assemblies (still we do have an Olympic team and tied with Venenzuela with the most Miss Universe wins) and all local laws passed by the island's legislature must comply with the Constitution of the United States. Like any other U.S. citizen, Puerto Ricans can be and have been drafted in the military. Puerto Ricans have served in every conflict since the first World War. Still, given that Puerto Rico is not a state, any U.S. citizen claiming residence on the island (even if you where born in any of the 50 states) has no voting representation in Congress and therefore does not have any electoral votes which would allow participation in federal elections. (Washington D.C. residents where granted the right to vote via an ammendment to the Constitution). Also, as the saying goes, "no taxation without representation", most Puerto Rican residents do not have to pay federal income tax. But before you pack your bags, know that other federal taxes do apply like those imposed on goods imported into the island among others mainly concerning companies with operations within the island, plus the local taxes are as painful as anywhere else.
So, is this territorial status a good thing or a bad thing? Well, Puerto Rico's political status has kept its residents divided on the issue for quite some time. The island's territorial rights have been debated for nearly 500 years (before the U.S. took control of the island in 1898, it was under the Spainish crown). Should the island seek independence? become a state? keep it's current status? revise the current status? Via what process should any change take place- constitutial assembly, referendum, a direct vote, an act of Congress, an act of God? I honestly do not think it will be resolved that easily any time soon.
A non-binding refferendum was held in 1998- the current commonwealth status prevailed, but only to a slight margin over statehood. Independece supporters hover around 5%. However, In recent years something has become clearer to the 4 million U.S. citizens on the island territory- Puerto Rico has a clear disadvantage at the federal level where laws are passed, wars are declared, budgets are planned, money gets allocated between states and so on... There is little that the residents of the island can do, other than write to a single congressional representative in D.C. which cannot take part in congessional votes. Even some supporters of the current territorial status have begun reffering to the current political situation as a "colony"- a word long considered taboo.
Now, even if the overwealming mayority of Puerto Ricans vote to become a state, it would still be up to 2/3 of the U.S. Congress to invite the island to the club. Would this be possible?
Lets imagine Puerto Rico as a state of the union. The U.S. flag would have 51 stars. 2 Senators would be added to the 100 which now serve in the Senate. Possibly 6 representatives from Puerto Rico would be elected into the House (some state will loose representatives due to the adjustment). This could mean 8 electoral votes! (thats more than some states!). Considering how close these elections have been, and how closely split congress, especially the Senate, this could tip the scale, but for whom? Would the rest of the contry feel comfortable with bigger congressional hispanic caucasses? What about adding a state where Spanish is the predominant language (That is, if Florida or California does not earn the title first) , what would this lead to? Publics schools teaching Spanish and English? Would Guam and the Virgin Islands be asking for statehood too? Would adding another state drain the budget? This would also mean, that Puerto Ricans could also be allowed to run for president, given that to become president of the United States, the candidate must have been born in a state of the union (same reason why Arnold and Madeline Albright can't run for president). Would Ricky Martin follow Reagan's footsteps from entertainer to leader of the free world? Given the chance, would President Martin, instead of shaking his bon-bon would he bomb-bomb Iraq? Would making Puerto Rico a state spare the U.S. mens Olympic Basketball team another humiliation?
Joking aside, this morning felt great. I voted today fully aware that this single vote also impacts 4 million other U.S. citizens that could not make it to the polls today.
Before moving to the states (or the mainland), I lived in Puerto Rico, a non-incorporated territory of the United States. Any person like me, who has been born in Puerto Rico is a U.S. citizen. The currency which is used is the U.S. dollar, the chief executive is the President of the United States, and all federal laws apply. The island government cannot sign international treaties nor have delegations to world assemblies (still we do have an Olympic team and tied with Venenzuela with the most Miss Universe wins) and all local laws passed by the island's legislature must comply with the Constitution of the United States. Like any other U.S. citizen, Puerto Ricans can be and have been drafted in the military. Puerto Ricans have served in every conflict since the first World War. Still, given that Puerto Rico is not a state, any U.S. citizen claiming residence on the island (even if you where born in any of the 50 states) has no voting representation in Congress and therefore does not have any electoral votes which would allow participation in federal elections. (Washington D.C. residents where granted the right to vote via an ammendment to the Constitution). Also, as the saying goes, "no taxation without representation", most Puerto Rican residents do not have to pay federal income tax. But before you pack your bags, know that other federal taxes do apply like those imposed on goods imported into the island among others mainly concerning companies with operations within the island, plus the local taxes are as painful as anywhere else.
So, is this territorial status a good thing or a bad thing? Well, Puerto Rico's political status has kept its residents divided on the issue for quite some time. The island's territorial rights have been debated for nearly 500 years (before the U.S. took control of the island in 1898, it was under the Spainish crown). Should the island seek independence? become a state? keep it's current status? revise the current status? Via what process should any change take place- constitutial assembly, referendum, a direct vote, an act of Congress, an act of God? I honestly do not think it will be resolved that easily any time soon.
A non-binding refferendum was held in 1998- the current commonwealth status prevailed, but only to a slight margin over statehood. Independece supporters hover around 5%. However, In recent years something has become clearer to the 4 million U.S. citizens on the island territory- Puerto Rico has a clear disadvantage at the federal level where laws are passed, wars are declared, budgets are planned, money gets allocated between states and so on... There is little that the residents of the island can do, other than write to a single congressional representative in D.C. which cannot take part in congessional votes. Even some supporters of the current territorial status have begun reffering to the current political situation as a "colony"- a word long considered taboo.
Now, even if the overwealming mayority of Puerto Ricans vote to become a state, it would still be up to 2/3 of the U.S. Congress to invite the island to the club. Would this be possible?
Lets imagine Puerto Rico as a state of the union. The U.S. flag would have 51 stars. 2 Senators would be added to the 100 which now serve in the Senate. Possibly 6 representatives from Puerto Rico would be elected into the House (some state will loose representatives due to the adjustment). This could mean 8 electoral votes! (thats more than some states!). Considering how close these elections have been, and how closely split congress, especially the Senate, this could tip the scale, but for whom? Would the rest of the contry feel comfortable with bigger congressional hispanic caucasses? What about adding a state where Spanish is the predominant language (That is, if Florida or California does not earn the title first) , what would this lead to? Publics schools teaching Spanish and English? Would Guam and the Virgin Islands be asking for statehood too? Would adding another state drain the budget? This would also mean, that Puerto Ricans could also be allowed to run for president, given that to become president of the United States, the candidate must have been born in a state of the union (same reason why Arnold and Madeline Albright can't run for president). Would Ricky Martin follow Reagan's footsteps from entertainer to leader of the free world? Given the chance, would President Martin, instead of shaking his bon-bon would he bomb-bomb Iraq? Would making Puerto Rico a state spare the U.S. mens Olympic Basketball team another humiliation?
Joking aside, this morning felt great. I voted today fully aware that this single vote also impacts 4 million other U.S. citizens that could not make it to the polls today.
posted by Jose at 1:48 PM
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