Puerto Rico Votes Overwhemingly For Statehood
Puerto Rico has begun the steps toward statehood this Sunday.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 97 percent voted for statehood, and less than two percent voted for independence from the United States.
The remainder voted to keep the current status of a territory of the United States.
This referendum begins the steps toward sending representatives to Washington, D.C.
For the next steps, Puerto Rico will put its “Tennessee plan” into action, which means its governor will choose two senators and five representatives to go to Washington, D.C., to request statehood.
Trump indicated during his presidential campaign that he is open to Puerto Rico officially becoming a state.
In 2012, Puerto Rico voted in favor of becoming the 51st state, but opponents said the voter turnout was not high enough to accurately reflect will of the Puerto Rican people.
This time around, only 23 percent turned out to vote.
So some are worried that opponents will try to make the same case again.
