Next Tuesday, Puerto Ricans will decide if the island will be the 51st state in the union. However, should Puerto Ricans decide to not move forward as the 51st state of the United States, there are two other paths the island could take. On November 5th, U.S. citizens living on the island will answer the question surrounding Puerto Rico’s political status through a plebiscite that allows them to choose between statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association with the U.S.
This week, a conducted by Yougov indicated that an overwhelming number of Americans support Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state.
The survey showed that over 59% of respondents agree with, while only 25% oppose it, representing a whopping +34% on the issue. If Puerto Rico became the 51st state, the island would be entitled to full representation in the Senate and Congress, and Puerto Rico would be able to vote in U.S. presidential elections.
Moreover, they would also receive federal taxes, federal funding, and other resources.
A second path that Puerto Rico could choose is becoming independent. If the voters elect to become independent, they will not receive the aforementioned benefits. Instead, they would become a fully sovereign nation, Puerto Ricans would not be U.S. citizens, and they would have to develop their own government, economy, and international relations.
Finally, voters could elect to have sovereignty with free association with the U.S. What free association entails is that Puerto Rico would be considered an independent nation while still maintaining an association agreement with the U.S.
The agreement allows Puerto Rico to self-govern, but it will also define areas of association like trade, defense, citizenship rights, etc. It is important to note that an association agreement could be revoked by the U.S. Government at any time, for any reason.
Florida has maintained a close relationship with Puerto Rico, providing significant support during the island’s battle with natural disasters. The Sunshine State's relationship with Puerto Rico is further deepened by for the island becoming the 51st state. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) has previously commented that Puerto Ricans should have a path to statehood because without it, “they’ve essentially been treated too often as second-class citizens.”
Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) has also expressed support for a path to statehood, noting that “Puerto Ricans should be able to chart their own path to statehood.”
