A new poll of Puerto Rico voters held some surprises. 1,109 voters from across Puerto Rico shared their views in a telephone survey.
Two third of voters expressed a willingness to vote in the 2024 plebiscite. When the numbers are divided by party preference, it comes to 84% of New Progressive Party, 78% of Independence Party voters, and 68% of Popular Democrats. Since the PPD has already been hinting at a boycott, their number is surprisingly high. 29% of respondents said they weren’t affiliated with any party.
If there were a federally-sponsored vote, as described in the Puerto Rico Status Act, the most popular option would be statehood, with a winning 50%. That is no surprise. The researchers recorded 27% support for the current or for “commonwealth” status, 14% for independence, and 9% for “associated republic or free association .”
Definitions may be a problem. The current status was described as “commonwealth,” but that term is sometimes used for the current territorial status and sometimes for the fantasy of “enhanced commonwealth.” Either way, it is not expected to be on the ballot in future plebiscites, I including the upcoming vote in November. Likewise, “associated republic or free association” is not entirely clear. The option that is on the ballot is described as “sovereign free association.”
14% is an unusually high number for independence on a status vote, but still a small minority.
Statehood or nationhood
The researchers also asked what voters would choose if they had only the two most realistic options, statehood or nationhood. In a contest between those two options, statehood would receive 71% of the vote.
83% considered U.S. citizenship very important. Since statehood is the only option that guarantees U.S. citizenship going forward, this strong feeling may be one of the reasons that statehood is so popular.
2024 plebiscite
The planned November 2024 plebiscite is intended to demonstrate that Puerto Rico has made a decision on political status. For decades, Congress has stepped back from taking responsibility for settling Puerto Rico’s political status, claiming that Puerto Rico hasn’t yet decided. “As soon as you make up your mind,” they have essentially said, “we’ll get started.”
Many decades of the pretense of “enhanced commonwealth” providing “the best of both worlds” have delayed the decision, but statehood has won in every vote in this century. Multiple polls have confirmed that statehood is the majority preference. It is time for Congress to take actions. Reach out to your representatives and make sure they know that you support statehood for Puerto Rico, as do most Puerto Ricans and most Americans.
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