Supporters of joining the United States as a full-fledged state are leading the referendum in Puerto Rico after more than 86% of the votes have been counted, local newspaper Nuevo Dia reports, citing election commission data.
⠀
In addition to electing a governor, resident commissioner (Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative in the US Congress) and members of municipal councils, residents of the island on Tuesday had the opportunity to decide what the Puerto Rican government and place in the US government will be.
⠀
Participants in the referendum were offered three options: full statehood, independence or expanded autonomy in the format of an associated state with the right to self-government.
⠀
With more than 86% of the ballots counted, those in favor of joining the United States as a state have 56.82% of the votes. 30.85% of Puerto Ricans voted for independence. The idea of expanded autonomy was supported by 12.33% of the island’s residents.
⠀
In 2020, 52.5% of voters were in favor of joining the United States, but the then administration of Republican Donald Trump ignored the results of the referendum, and Congress did not take steps in this direction.
⠀
The current administration of President Joe Biden supports Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination, which could lead to a review of the referendum results in Congress.
