Puerto Rico votes for U.S. statehood in non-binding referendum

People ride atop a vehicle waving a Puerto Rican flag during elections in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 6, 2012. / AP

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from Congress.

The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54 percent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 percent, or 786,749 people, favored the status quo. Ninety-six percent of 1,643 precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.

The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent.

President Obama earlier expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of a clear majority.

It is unclear whether U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Mr. Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority.

Puerto Rico's resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did not return calls for comment. He received 48 percent or 874,914 votes, while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 percent or 855,732 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.

The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.

According to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current political status.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party received 48 percent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader of the New Progressive Party, received 47 percent or 855,325 votes.

Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.

"I can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be subjected to ideologies."

Election results also pointed to a major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736 votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.

[marionette23]

After the news of the referendum hit, there was a lot of interest in Puerto Rico. Many Americans still don't realize that no passport is necessary. You can find all the infprmation about San Juan you need at http://labochinchosa.com the art and entertainment guide to San Juan

[USA012]

The President is democrat,the congressmen,in majority,are republican,now,that's not clear.
The PR referendum finished with results in favor of statehood,that's clear.In any part of the world,
the blanc voting paper can't be count cause people didn't want to choose or involucrate in any decision,that's clear.
So,White House have to take in consideration the people that choose a statehood,they wanted to be counted and involucrated.
We trust the White House democracy--very clear.

[USA012]

About the referendum::The first question in the paper of referendum ask:"do you want to continue as commonwealth"--
more people said"NO"..If you said"NO",then you go to the second
question;;"which status do you choose"--people said""State 51""...
So the people of PR do not said YES to be a commonwealth..
Said ''NO''..they want the state 51 ..
The White House respectfully should honor the choice in the referendum..
"NO to the commonwealth"--"YES to be state 51"..We TRUST THEM.
We VOTE WITH CONFIDENCE...
Why to be the 51 state? Is the same reason why the other states are states,they don't want to be separate,right?..
well PR don't want to be separate..they want the same..vote for a president,to have congressmen representative of the island and vote for the problems to be solve..Alaskan representative can't represent Hawaii cause they have differents situations ,
every state has their issues to be solve in federal laws.

[RUM-COLEGIO]

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/act-puerto-rican-referendum-november-6-2012/c4tVBBlY?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl and http://www.change.org/petitions/us-congress-start-a-process-to-admit-puerto-rico-as-the-51st-state

[maruqa11]

I believe the following statement is wrong: "The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favorite, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent."
These statement does not take into consideration 470,032 ballots left in blank. Here are the official results:
Statehood: 805,155 (45%)
Independence: 72,978 (4%)
Sovereign free association: 438,896 (24%)
Left in blank: 470,032 (26%)
Protestadas: 17,673
So yes, statehood was the favorite one but also they need to consider that the 26% left in blank was a form of protest... they didn't agree with the definition given to the sovereign free association.
Can go to this website and check it out.
http://resultados.puertoricodecide.com/2012/elecciones-generales/

[raginbull43]

Humans are the worst creatures on this planet. We destroy everything in our path, Including ourselves. This Race will kill itself over What? Power? Money? Religion?.. We are the most selfish living creatures. Someone bigger than us is watching and that is why we will pay for our transgressions. Doesn't matter if your Puerto Rican or Jewish, Palestinians,Iranians, ARabs, Russians. NO culture or religion is perfect.

[Forty-Four]

How does this relate to the story exactly?

[Forty-Four]

I don't see why so many people are against this happening. Things will change sooner or later so why not make them sooner? Besides, for those concerned with crime; statehood would present them with new federal laws...not to mention that they have to create a constitution that Congress approves of. I doubt they will fit right in at first, but give it time and it will be fine.

[Justice2105]

PUERTO RICANS ARE BORN U.S. CITIZENS, AND DESERVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE 51STATE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE VOTED AND CHOSE STATEHOOD, NOW WE THE PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO HELP US OUT AND NOT LET THE NEWLY ELECTED DICTATOR PADILLA WITH E.L.A. AS HISTORY HAS PROVEN THATE.L.A. = THE SOCAILIST PARTY WISH WAS CREATED TO FOOL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!, AND THE SOVERIN MOVEMENT
WHICH OPENLY WANTS NO PART OF THE US AND THE INDEPENTISTAS WHICH WANTS TOTAL INDEPEDENSE FOR PUERTO RICO! HAVE NOW BOUGHT UP ALL THESE FAKE NUMBERS TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO REMAIN A COLONY WHICH IS NOT TRUE 61 PERCENT OF THE PUETO RICAN PEOPLE ON THIS ILAND WANT TO BE THE51 STATE AND
THATS AN OVERWELMIN MAJORITY! (WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES WANT OUR FREEDOM NOW MR> PRESIDENT DONT LET THESE COMMUNIST WIN!.(51 STATE NOW!.

[a47percenter]

NOT.

[a47percenter]

No. All potta reeko is to us is a burden; they have NOTHING to contribute except crime.

[raginbull43]

The Puerto Ricans didn't burn those tenaments in The Bronx. It was the Jewish Landlords who were to cheap to fix violations in those buildings. So they Paid some idiots to burn them down for the INSURAnce Money. Puerto Ricans have contributed more to this country than all other latin cultures.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Great idea. I met many PRs during my military service and they were some of the most dedicated soldiers I knew. They are all US Citizens, but are disenfranchised due to lack of statehood. It's about time we gave it to them. In the past, I remember they have been against such an initiative, but now a majority must believe that their time has come. Let us petition congress to welcome our fellow Americans.