News about Puerto Rico has dominated the media over the past week or so, and on November 5th the island state could make more news in the ballot.
On Election Day, Puerto Ricans will head to the voting booth to decide on statehood. This vote could see the United States expanding to 51 states with Puerto Rico, and a new poll indicates that many Americans support it.
YouGov surveyed 7,200 Americans this week, inquiring if they supported Puerto Ricans voting in favor of becoming the 51st state. The poll results show that over 59% of respondents support the decision, 16% oppose the decision, and 25% argued that they were unsure.
In terms of political affiliations, Democrats and Independents were more likely to support Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state with 79% of Democrats and 56% of Independents being favorable. In contrast, Republicans were more likely to be opposed to the idea with 29% of Republicans opposing it.
As well, 15% of Democrats, 29% of Independents, and 31% of Republicans responded that they were unsure of the measure.
Specifically, Puerto Rican voters will choose one of three options on the ballot: statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the United States.
YouGov conducted a similar poll in 2016, but respondents were instead asked to share what they thought was the best option for Puerto Rico regarding the island’s political status. A majority of respondents in that poll said that they believed statehood was the best option.
The poll comes after controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joked that Puerto Rico is a "floating island of garbage" at Sunday’s Trump rally in Madison Square Garden. The joke attracted condemnation from both Republicans and Democrats, and it further resulted in President Joe Biden (D) attracting controversy by calling Trump supporters “garbage.”
According to data from the United States Census Bureau, Puerto Rico has a population of 3 million, and 5.8 million people of Puerto Rican descent are living in the United States.
