Puerto Rico status referendums
Puerto Ricans have proposed positions that modify the three alternatives above, such as (a) indemnified independence with phased-out US subsidy, (b) expanded political but not fiscal autonomy, and (c) statehood with a gradual phasing out of federal tax exemption.
[1] The United States has been preparing for the outcome of a binding-referendum with Puerto Rico Status Act in the 2020s, and it passed the U.S. House in 2022, but not senate.
The 1993 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 accepted by Congress.
The 1998 results, where "none of the above", which was the PPD sponsored choice was the winner, protested criteria set forth by the then ruling New Progressive Party.
Following this referendum, efforts in the 1970s to enact legislation to address the status issue died in congressional committees.
The 1991 Referendum on the proposed "Claim to Democratic Rights" asked the voters to approve the addition of an amendment to the Puerto Rican constitution.
[12] A subsequent referendums was organized by the Puerto Rican government in 1993 (in which the Congress played a more substantial role) where, at 48.6%, the commonwealth status won a plurality, though not a majority vote.
Since definitions on the ballot were formulated by the political parties themselves, neither Congress nor executive branch officials intervened to ensure that the alternatives presented to the voters would pass constitutional muster.
Others may argue that PDP advocates did not achieve a final victory in the 1993 vote because Congress rejected the commonwealth option presented on ballots.
The first question asked voters whether they wanted to maintain the existing commonwealth status under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution or whether they preferred a nonterritorial option.
"[26] On May 14, 2013, the heavily pro-Commonwealth 17th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico approved a concurrent resolution that stated, in part, "On November 6, 2012, a plesbicite took place in Puerto Rico concurrent with the general elections whose results were inconclusive since none of the options garnished a majority of votes.
Congress has the power to vote to allow Chapter 9 protection without the need for statehood, but in late 2015 there was very little support in the House for this concept.
[32] At approximately the same time as the referendum, Puerto Rico's legislators were also expected[needs update] to vote on a bill that would allow the Governor to draft a state constitution and hold elections to choose senators and representatives to the federal Congress.
Based on the completed certified election night count, the option to pursue statehood won the referendum 52.52%–47.48%.
The executive order follows the U.S. House of Representatives' 2022 approval of a bill to help Puerto Rico move toward a change in territorial status.
[36][37] No congressionally mandated referendum has ever been held, and average voter turnout in the locally enacted status votes has been about 10% lower than in general elections.
