Puerto Rico voters back statehood, but low turnout creates debate on legitimacy

SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico’s governor announced that the U.S. territory overwhelmingly chose statehood yesterday in a nonbinding referendum held amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus of islanders to the U.S. mainland.

Nearly half a million votes were cast for statehood, about 7,600 for free association/independence and nearly 6,700 for the current territorial status, according to preliminary results. Voter turnout was just 23 percent, leading opponents to question the validity of a vote that several political parties had urged their supporters to boycott.

The U.S. Congress has final say in any changes to Puerto Rico’s political status. Gov. Ricardo Rossello vowed to push ahead with his administration’s quest to make the island the 51st U.S. state and declaring that “Puerto Rico voted for statehood.” He said he would create a commission to ensure that Congress validates the referendum’s results.

“In any democracy, the expressed will of the majority that participates in the electoral processes always prevails,” Rossello said. “It would be highly contradictory for Washington to demand democracy in other parts of the world, and not respond to the legitimate right to self-determination that was exercised today in the American territory of Puerto Rico.”

It was the lowest level of participation in any election in Puerto Rico since 1967. Even among voters who supported statehood, turnout was lower this year compared with the last referendum in 2012.

Puerto Rico’s main opposition party rejected the pro-statehood result.

“The scant participation ... sends a clear message,” said Anibal Jose Torres, a party member. “The people rejected it by boycotting an inconsequential event.”