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Puerto Rico Status Referendum is Historic
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Contributor | TX DEM |
Last Edited | TX DEM Feb 18, 2012 01:29pm |
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Category | News |
News Date | Saturday, February 18, 2012 07:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
Description | In December 2011, Puerto Rico's legislature approved, and Governor Luis Fortuño signed, Law 283. This legislation provides for a referendum — alternatively referred to as a plebiscite — to be held on the US territory's political status. The plebiscite will take place on November 6, 2012, the same day as the US general elections and Puerto Rico's local elections.
The plebiscite ballot will consist of two questions. Voters will first be asked whether they want the current territory status to continue. Regardless of how voters answer that question, they will then be asked to express their preference among the three alternatives to the current status: statehood, independence and nationhood in free association with the US.
If a majority of Puerto Rico voters in November cast their ballots in opposition to the current status, and in support of one of the alternatives, Puerto Rico's local officials can be expected to petition the federal government to act upon that choice. For example, if statehood obtains majority support, then Puerto Rico's single representative in the US Congress — known as the Resident Commissioner, a position I have held since January 2009 — will likely introduce legislation that would place Puerto Rico on the path to statehood, phasing in equal treatment for the island under federal law. As with other bills, this legislation would be subject to amendment and require the approval of Congress and the signature of the president. |
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