Puerto Rico is planning another status vote along with the general election this November. On November 5th, the fourth 21st century plebiscite will take place. All three of the votes in the 21st century so far have shown that the majority of voters choose statehood for the Island’s permanent political status. This year’s 2024 Puerto Rico status vote is another opportunity to show our support for statehood.
Is it worth doing?
Some say that it’s a waste of money to hold another non-binding plebiscite. Congress has not taken action following previous votes, they say, and the 2024 Puerto Rico status vote won’t change anything. The Puerto Rico Status Act calls for a commitment from Congress to take action. The vote called for in that legislation will result in a change of status for Puerto Rico. The November 5th vote might not result in such a change.
But, as George Laws Garcia points out in this video, the upcoming plebiscite will put pressure on Congress to pay attention to the voters’ will. The stars options on the ballot will be the same as those on the Puerto Rico Status Act, which passed the House of Representatives in 2022. “This vote will be put fresh pressure on the incoming Congress of 2025,” Laws Garcia points out, “to prioritize this in their legislative agenda.”
Your voice matters in the 2024 Puerto Rico status vote
Congress has made progress. The nation has made progress. Ten years ago, most Americans didn’t even know that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Most Americans were not aware of the injustice faced by Puerto Ricans. Many in Congress were unaware of the strategic importance of Puerto Rico — and China’s presence in the Caribbean and Latin America was not top of mind for many. Many in Puerto Rico were still misled to believe in the fantasy of “enhanced commonwealth” a best-of-both-worlds option which all three branches of the federal government have rejected repeatedly. Congress was content to claim that Puerto Rico hadn’t decided what status they wanted so the hands of the federal government were tied.
We are closer to statehood than ever before. If you vote in Puerto Rico, be sure to turn up on November 5ht and vote for statehood. If you vote in a state, reach out to your representatives and ask them to listen to the voters of Puerto Rico and respect their vote.
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