Thousands of people across Puerto Rico headed to the polls on Sunday to vote on a nonbinding referendum on whether the island should become the 51st US state, remain a US territory or it become an independent nation. With almost all votes counted, the option for full statehood was backed by more than 97% – but turnout stood at just 23%.
Puerto Rico came under US control in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. It has its own governor and legislative body and it became a US commonwealth territory with its own constitution in 1952.
Its commonwealth status means Puerto Rico is subject to US federal laws, though island residents are exempt from some federal taxes.
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Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917, however, as residents of a commonwealth territory rather than a state they can’t vote for president in the US general election. The territory has a nonvoting delegate in Congress, called a resident commissioner.
It also gets US military protection and receives federal funding from the government for highways and social programs, just not as much as official states receive.
Nevertheless, Puerto Ricans believe that statehood for Puerto Rico could help the island’s economy.
BBC / CNN