2012 Puerto Rican status referendum

none September 2023 2012 Puerto Rican status referendum 2012 Puerto Rico 6 November 2012 300px 100px Do you agree that Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of territorial status? Yes silver 46.03 No slategray 53.97 Regardless of your selection in the first question, please mark which of the following non-territorial options you would prefer. Statehood blue 61.16 Free Association red 33.34 Independence green 5.49 1998 1998 Puerto Rican status referendum 2017 2017 Puerto Rican status referendum A referendum on the political status of Puerto Rico was held in Puerto Rico on November 6, 2012. It was the fourth referendum on status to be held in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since the Spanish–American War in 1898. Puerto Rican voters were asked two questions: firstly whether they agreed to continue with Puerto Rico's territorial status and secondly to indicate the political status they preferred from three possibilities: statehood, independence, or a sovereign nation in free association with the United States.http://www.ceepur.org/es-pr/Documents/PapeletaModeloPlebiscito12.pdf Papeleta Modelo Plebiscito 2012 CEEPUR 2012-10-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20140522122256/http://www.ceepur.org/es-pr/Documents/PapeletaModeloPlebiscito12.pdf 2014-05-22 dead 970,910 (53.97%) voted "No" on the first question, expressing themselves against maintaining the current political status, and 828,077 (46.03%) voted "Yes", to maintain the current political status. Of those who answered on the second question 834,191 (61.16%) chose statehood, 454,768 (33.34%) chose free association, and 74,895 (5.49%) chose independence.http://168.62.166.179/eg2012/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#en/default/CONDICION_POLITICA_TERRITORIAL_ACTUAL_ISLA.xml CEE Event - CONDICIÓN POLÍTICA TERRITORIAL ACTUAL - Resumen 2012-11-08 2012-11-08 Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico February 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240221102723/http://168.62.166.179/eg2012/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#en/default/CONDICION_POLITICA_TERRITORIAL_ACTUAL_ISLA.xml dead http://168.62.166.179/eg2012/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#en/default/OPCIONES_NO_TERRITORIALES_ISLA.xml CEE Event - OPCIONES NO TERRITORIALES - Resumen 2012-11-08 2012-11-08 Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico February 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240221102723/http://168.62.166.179/eg2012/REYDI_Escrutinio/index.html#en/default/OPCIONES_NO_TERRITORIALES_ISLA.xml dead The governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and several other leaders who favor the present status had recommended voting "Yes" to the first question, and leaving the second question blank as a protest to what they said was "an anti-democratic process" and "a trap".http://www.elnuevodia.com/videos/noticias/politica/garciapadillaexhortaadejarlasegundapreguntaenblanco-video-121288/ García Padilla exhorta a dejar la segunda pregunta en blanco: El candidato por la gobernación del PPD también pide que voten sí en la primera pregunta del plebiscito El Nuevo Día November 2, 2012 Puerto Rico's nonvoting Resident Commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi, has said that he will "defend the people's decision" in Washington, D.C. He plans to introduce legislation in Congress to admit Puerto Rico to the Union.Pedro Pierluisi Pedro Pierluisi http://jurist.org/hotline/2012/02/pedro-pierluisi-referendum.php Puerto Rico Status Referendum is Historic JURIST February 17, 2012 7 October 2012 http://www.elnuevodia.com/intensodebatesobretriunfodelaestadidad-1380677.html Intenso debate sobre triunfo de la estadidad El Nuevo Día Del Valle, Sara November 8, 2012 November 9, 2012 November 11, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121111055803/http://www.elnuevodia.com/intensodebatesobretriunfodelaestadidad-1380677.html dead Although García Padilla questioned the validity of the results, he stated that he planned to go forward with what President Barack Obama had suggested, and convene a constituent assembly to resolve the status issue. Such an assembly was not ultimately held under García Padilla's governorship. Previous referendums had been held on the island to decide on the political status of Puerto Rico, most recently in 1998.http://eleccionespuertorico.org/cgi-bin/eventos.cgi?evento=1967 Puerto Rico State Electoral Commission: Official Results for the 1967 Political-Status Plebiscite May 1, 2010http://eleccionespuertorico.org/cgi-bin/eventos.cgi?evento=1993 Puerto Rico State Electoral Commission: Official Results for the 1993 Political-Status Plebiscite May 1, 2010http://eleccionespuertorico.org/cgi-bin/eventos.cgi?evento=1998 Elecciones en Puerto Rico: Consulta de Resultados Eleccionespuertorico.org 2012-11-07 Background Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since the end of the Spanish–American War in 1898. Although Puerto Ricans were granted United States citizenship with the 1917 Jones–Shafroth Act, they cannot vote for the President of the United States unless registered to vote in one of the United States. In addition, the US retains the exclusive right to create and manage foreign policy, including any that affects the island. In June 2011 the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization asked the United States to expedite the process for political status self-determination in Puerto Rico.https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/gacol3224.doc.htm 2011-06-20 Special Committee on Decolonization Calls on United States, in Consensus Text, to Speed up Process Allowing Puerto Rico to Exercise Self-Determination: Nearly 25 Petitioners Underscore Gravity of Situation on Island, Buckling Under Economic Strain; Vigorous Opposition to Death Penalty Also Expressed. April 22, 2012 Puerto Rico, unlike several other U.S. territories such as Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, is not on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.United Nations Non-Self-Governing Territories https://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgovterritories.shtml 2 June 2012 As it is not a state, its citizens do not have the right to full representation in the U.S. Congress nor can they vote in presidential elections. On December 28, 2011, Governor Luis Fortuño authorized the referendum for November 6, 2012.https://news.yahoo.com/puerto-rico-approves-political-status-referendum-215146986.html Puerto Rico approves political status referendum Yahoo News December 29, 2011 Support Most of the leadership of the New Progressive Party (PNP) vouched for a status referendum to be held. Governor Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, and Jorge Santini, the Mayor of San Juan, all supported holding a status referendum. Originally, they presented a bill which divided the process into two separate referendums: one in August to vote whether or not to continue with the current status, and a second one in November to choose among several alternatives to the current status. This process was approved in a General Assembly of the party in October 2011.http://www.elnuevodia.com/asambleapnpapruebaresolucionparaapoyarplebiscito-1107835.html Asamblea PNP aprueba resolución para apoyar plebiscito El Nuevo Día Rosario, Frances October 30, 2011 November 9, 2012 January 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120102072753/http://www.elnuevodia.com/asambleapnpapruebaresolucionparaapoyarplebiscito-1107835.html dead Jenniffer González, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, also supported the bill. In December 2011, the House approved the bill for a status referendum to be held in November 2012, along with the general elections.http://www.elnuevodia.com/camaraapruebaproyectodestatus-1149458.html Cámara aprueba proyecto de status El Nuevo Día Santiago, Yaritza December 21, 2011 November 9, 2012 July 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120725060156/http://www.elnuevodia.com/camaraapruebaproyectodestatus-1149458.html dead The day before the elections, González said the opportunity to vote for statehood was "historic".http://www.elnuevodia.com/emocionadajenniffergonzalezporvotareneleccioneshistoricas-1379487.html Emocionada Jenniffer González por votar en elecciones históricas El Nuevo Día Vega, María Ivette November 6, 2012 Juan Dalmau Ramírez, gubernatorial candidate for the Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP), defended the participation of supporters of Puerto Rican independence in the status referendum. Dalmau said that Puerto Rico "had a problem, which was the cancer of colonialism which doesn't allow us to develop ourselves." He said that Puerto Ricans should take advantage of "every chance to overcome the colonial status" and criticized Alejandro García Padilla, President of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) for not supporting the process.http://www.independencia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=751:dalmau-dice-que-los-independentistas-deben-apoyar-el-plebiscito&catid=52&Itemid=110&lang=es Dalmau dice que los independentistas deben apoyar el plebiscito PIP Official website November 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20150619001032/http://www.independencia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=751:dalmau-dice-que-los-independentistas-deben-apoyar-el-plebiscito&catid=52&Itemid=110&lang=es June 19, 2015 dead mdy-all Opposition The status referendum has been criticized by some members of all political parties, including the New Progressive Party (PNP) that proposed it. Former Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Rosselló (from the PNP) said that the choices in the ballot were confusing and might cause "an uncertainty that, in the end, will bring us more of the same: the status quo, continued."http://elecciones.elnuevodia.com/elecciones-2012/rossello-esta-confundido-con-alternativas-del-plebiscito/ Rosselló esta confundido con alternativas del plebiscito El Nuevo Día Rosario, Frances September 27, 2012 October 15, 2012 https://archive.today/20130122120007/http://elecciones.elnuevodia.com/elecciones-2012/rossello-esta-confundido-con-alternativas-del-plebiscito/ January 22, 2013 dead mdy-all Another former governor from the PNP, Carlos Romero Barceló, argued that "the content and language of the formulas will confuse the voter."http://www.elnuevodia.com/doblefrenoaconsultadestatus-1143275.html Doble freno a consulta de status El Nuevo Día Santiago, Yaritza December 14, 2011 Former Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón, from the PPD, argued that the project "doesn't follow the recommendations of the White House report on [Puerto Rico] in either its content or its date." He criticized the definition used for the Estado Libre Asociado, which is the current status and the one his party defends. According to El Nuevo Día (December 13, 2011), Hernández Colón would advocate that they follow the seventh recommendation of the White House report, and "work from the island to go, together with the White House, to Congress with a bill, in order to press them to establish real status options for the citizens to vote [on]."http://www.elnuevodia.com/hernandezcolondescartariaelplebiscitodestatus-1142974.html https://archive.today/20130122012322/http://www.elnuevodia.com/hernandezcolondescartariaelplebiscitodestatus-1142974.html dead January 22, 2013 Hernández Colón descartaría el plebiscito de status El Nuevo Día December 13, 2011 Another member of the PPD, Senator Eduardo Bhatia, said that the status referendum was "a trick" and that the results would not have any value in Washington because it was an "illegitimate and badly designed ballot question."http://www.elnuevodia.com/bhatiadicequeelplebiscitoesuntruco-1148313.html https://archive.today/20130122122712/http://www.elnuevodia.com/bhatiadicequeelplebiscitoesuntruco-1148313.html dead January 22, 2013 Bhatia dice que el plebiscito es un truco El Nuevo Día December 20, 2011 Some members of the minority parties agreed with the criticism. After a poll in a local newspaper presented contradicting results, Rogelio Figueroa, gubernatorial candidate and co-founder of the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR), argued that the poll was proof the status referendum would not solve the status issue. He also said that the project was just a way for the two main parties to "perpetuate themselves".http://www.elnuevodia.com/rogeliofigueroadicequeelplebiscitoesunchijichija-1361018.html Rogelio Figueroa dice que el plebiscito es un chiji chija El Nuevo Día Figueroa, Alex October 10, 2012 October 15, 2012 October 28, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121028215818/http://www.elnuevodia.com/rogeliofigueroadicequeelplebiscitoesunchijichija-1361018.html dead Other leaders from the Movimiento Unión Soberanista (MUS), Worker's People Party (PPT), and the Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano (MINH) considered the process to be just an excuse of the government to "push supporters of statehood to vote" with some of them calling the referendum a "deceit to voters."http://www.elnuevodia.com/blog-la_independencia_ante_el_plebiscito-1365597.html La independencia ante eel plebiscito El Nuevo Día Delgado, José A. October 17, 2012 November 9, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121031041736/http://www.elnuevodia.com/blog-la_independencia_ante_el_plebiscito-1365597.html October 31, 2012 dead mdy-all Report by the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status The Report by the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status recognizes that the authority under the U.S. Constitution to establish a permanent non-territorial status for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico rests with Congress. Although the current territorial status may continue so long as Congress desires, only two non-territorial options are recognized by the U.S. Constitution to establish a permanent status between the people of Puerto Rico and the Government of the United States. One is statehood. Under this option, Puerto Rico would become the 51st State with standing equal to the other 50 States. The other is independence. Under this option, Puerto Rico would become a separate, independent sovereign nation. The report said that the democratic will of the Puerto Rican people was paramount for the future status of the territory. It suggested any change should begin with an expression from the people of Puerto Rico on whether to maintain current territorial status or establish a permanent non-territorial status with regard to the United States. It recommended that the will of people be ascertained in a way to provide clear guidance for future action by Congress. The December 2005 Task Force made the following recommendations: Congress within a year to provide for a federally sanctioned plebiscite in which the people of Puerto Rico will be asked to state whether they wish to remain a U.S. territory subject to the will of Congress or to pursue a Constitutionally viable path toward a permanent non-territorial status with the United States. Congress should provide for this plebiscite to occur on a date certain. If the people of Puerto Rico elect to pursue a permanent non-territorial status, Congress should provide for an additional plebiscite allowing the people of Puerto Rico to choose between one of the two permanent non-territorial options. Once the people have selected one of the two options, Congress is encouraged to begin a process of transition toward that option. If the people elect to remain as a territory, a plebiscite should be held periodically, as long as that status continues, to keep the US Congress informed of the people's wishes. President George H. W. Bush issued a memorandum on November 30, 1992, to heads of executive departments and agencies, establishing the current administrative relationship between the federal government and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This memorandum directs all federal departments, agencies, and officials to treat Puerto Rico administratively as if it were a state insofar as doing so would not disrupt federal programs or operations. The December 2007 Report by the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status reiterated its prior 2005 recommendation that Congress provide for a federally sanctioned plebiscite in order that the people of Puerto Rico could express their wishes in relation to maintaining the current territorial status or to pursuing a constitutionally viable path toward a permanent non-territorial status. Congress should provide for this plebiscite to occur on a date certain. On March 16, 2011, the President's Task Force on Political Status issued a third report which concluded that "(u)nder the Commonwealth option, Puerto Rico would remain, as it is today, subject to the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution." It said that proposals for enhanced Commonwealth were unconstitutional in relation to the U.S. Constitution. Such proposals had provisions that would not be enforceable because a future Congress "could choose to alter that relationship unilaterally." The Plebiscite was called by the elective representatives of the people of Puerto Rico on the options for the Island Status identified by the Task Force on Puerto Rico. The structure of the Plebiscite followed the findings and recommendations proposed by the March 2011 Task Force report.https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf 26–27 Report By the President's Task Force On Puerto Rico's Status March 2011 February 16, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20170216184218/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf February 16, 2017 live National Archives whitehouse.gov mdy-all Ballot The referendum posed two questions. Voters were asked first whether they agreed that Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of territorial status. Regardless of how voters answered that question, they were asked secondly, to express their preference among the three non-territorial alternatives:R. Sam Garrett https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42765.pdf Puerto Rico's Political Status and the 2012 Plebiscite: Background and Key Questions Congressional Research Service October 2, 2012 7 October 2012 statehood, complete independence, or nationhood in free association with the United States. Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau have such an agreement through the Compact of Free Association. The ballot descriptions for the second part of the question were: Statehood: "Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state of the United States of America so that all United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico may have rights, benefits, and responsibilities equal to those enjoyed by all other citizens of the states of the Union, and be entitled to full representation in Congress and to participate in the Presidential elections, and the United States Congress would be required to pass any necessary legislation to begin the transition into Statehood." This option was identified by a star with the number 51 inside. Independence: "Puerto Rico should become a sovereign nation, fully independent from the United States and the United States Congress would be required to pass any necessary legislation to begin the transition into independent nation of Puerto Rico." This option was identified by a map of Puerto Rico with the word "Free" written inside. Sovereign Free Associated State: "Puerto Rico should adopt a status outside of the Territory Clause of the Constitution of the United States that recognizes the sovereignty of the People of Puerto Rico. The Sovereign Free Associated State would be based on a free and voluntary political association, the specific terms of which shall be agreed upon between the United States and Puerto Rico as sovereign nations. Such agreement would provide the scope of the jurisdictional powers that the People of Puerto Rico agree to confer to the United States and retain all other jurisdictional powers and authorities." This option was identified by the silhouette of a pitirre (Gray Kingbird). Criticism Critics said that voters who favor a developed version of the current status of Puerto Rico (a commonwealth which is part of the United States with internal self-government) had no alternatives on the ballot. As a result, leaders of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) instructed such voters to leave the second portion of the ballot blank, or to invalidate the ballot.José Colón http://www.dialogodigital.com/index.php/Los-escenarios-del-plebiscito-de-noviembre-terreno-movedizo.html Los escenarios del plebiscito de noviembre: terreno movedizo Diálogo Digital October 25, 2012 February 16, 2013 https://archive.today/20130121112810/http://www.dialogodigital.com/index.php/Los-escenarios-del-plebiscito-de-noviembre-terreno-movedizo.html January 21, 2013 dead mdy-all Because there were almost 500,000 blank ballots, creating confusion as to the voters' true desire, it provided Congress an opportunity to ignore the vote, which it did.http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article128782174.html Will Puerto Rico become the newest star on the American flag? Wyss Jim January 26, 2017 Miami Herald Miami Herald February 24, 2017 History professor Luis Agrait explained the result in this manner to CNN: "If you assume those blank votes are anti-statehood votes, the true result for the statehood option would be less than 50%."http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/election-puerto-rico/index.html Puerto Ricans favor statehood for the first time CNN Castillo, Mariano November 8, 2012 Considered as a percentage of the total number of votes cast in the first ballot, 44% voted in favor of statehood on the second ballot. Results In this election, 2,402,941 voters were registered to vote; of these, 1,864,186 voted, giving the plebiscite a 78% stake. In the second part of the ballot, 498,604 voters left ballots blank, and another 16,744 ballots were rejected, with votes not awarded. This was the tally of the final vote: Part I Should Puerto Rico continue its current territorial status? 828077 970910 80215 2402941 CEEPUR Part II Which non-territorial option do you prefer? Statehood 834191 Free Association 454768 Independence 74895 515348 2402941 CEEPUR Reactions and aftermath Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and outgoing Governor Luis Fortuño have stated that they will present the results to the Obama administration and leaders of the United States Congress.https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-ricans-opt-statehood-referendum-17663603#.UJq5nYaDCSp Puerto Rico Ousts Governor, Backs US Statehood Fox Ben Coto Danica 2012-11-07 2012-11-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20121109175913/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-ricans-opt-statehood-referendum-17663603#.UJq5nYaDCSp 2012-11-09 dead President Obama had said that he would support the will of Puerto Ricans if there is a clear majority.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/11/07/puerto-rico-referendum/1689097/ Puerto Ricans opt for statehood in referendum USA Today 2012-11-07 2012-11-07 Governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla, who had been critical of the process, said that the consult was "unfair" and that it didn't offer clear results. He also said that "none of the options received most of the 50% within the emitted ballots," which included those from voters who did not choose any of the presented non-territorial options.http://www.elnuevodia.com/nohaytiempoqueperder-1380681.html No hay tiempo que perder El Nuevo Día Cortés, Ricardo November 8, 2012 November 9, 2012 November 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121108193644/http://www.elnuevodia.com/nohaytiempoqueperder-1380681.html dead Wilda Rodriguez, a freelance journalist and political analyst, said that the votes for the various "anti-statehood" alternatives cancelled each other out. She conducted a poll and found that 53.64% of the electorate do not support statehood. The analyst Néstor Duprey said that, although the premise that statehood won could be mathematically correct, the "blank ballots can't be ignored because they are the product of a political intention" —referring to the PPD's campaign for voters to leave the second question unanswered. On November 8, 2012, the Washington, D.C. newspaper, The Hill, suggested that Congress will likely ignore the results of the referendum due to the circumstances behind the votes.https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/134077-congress-expected-to-ignore-puerto-ricos-vote-for-statehood/ Congress expected to ignore Puerto Rico's vote for statehood The Hill Kasperowicz, Pete November 8, 2012 U.S. Congressman Luis Gutiérrez and U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, both of Puerto Rican ancestry, agreed with the statements.http://www.elnuevodia.com/elcongresonoharacasoalosresultadosdelplebiscito-1381852.html El Congreso no hará caso a los resultados del plebiscito El Nuevo Día November 9, 2012 A few days after the referendum, Governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla wrote a letter to President Obama, asking him to reject the results because of their ambiguity.https://www.scribd.com/doc/113173819/Carta-Garcia-Padilla-a-Obama-Plebiscito Alejandro García Padilla letter to Barack Obama García Padilla, Alejandro Alejandro García Padilla November 9, 2012 On November 13, 2012, both the Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and the current Governor Luis Fortuño wrote separate letters to President Obama urging him to begin legislation in favor of resolving the political status of Puerto Rico, in light of the results of the referendum.http://recend.apextech.netdna-cdn.com/static/docs/editor/20121114_politica_pierluisi.pdf Pedro Pierluisi letter to Barack Obama Pierluisi, Pedro Pedro Pierluisi November 13, 2012 November 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121119031241/http://recend.apextech.netdna-cdn.com/static/docs/editor/20121114_politica_pierluisi.pdf November 19, 2012 dead mdy-allGovernor of Puerto Rico Letter to the President - Official Results of the 2012 Puerto Rico Political Status Plebiscite In early December, ad-lib comments by the White House spokesman were initially ambiguous.http://www.elnuevodia.com/casablancadicequenohubounmandatoafavordelaestadidad-1400069.html Casa Blanca dice que no hubo un mandato a favor de la estadidad El Nuevo Día Delgado, José December 3, 2012 Jay Carney said, "I think the outcome was a little less clear than that because of the process itself." December 4, 2012 December 5, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121205083835/http://www.elnuevodia.com/casablancadicequenohubounmandatoafavordelaestadidad-1400069.html deadhttp://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/white-house-status-vote-not-clear-79102.html White House: Status vote not 'clear' Caribbean Business December 3, 2012 December 4, 2012 https://archive.today/20130119083721/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/white-house-status-vote-not-clear-79102.html January 19, 2013 usurped mdy-all Hours later, Luis Miranda, the White House's Hispanic Affairs spokesman, told Puerto Rico's El Nuevo Día that the Obama administration thought a majority of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood and supported Congress taking action.Roque Planas http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/puerto-rico-status-white-_n_2237757.html Puerto Rico Status: White House Gives Mixed Signals On Statehood Huffington Post December 4, 2012 February 16, 2013José Delgado http://www.elnuevodia.com/casablancaestadidadobtuvomayoriaenlasegundapregunta-1400565.html Casa Blanca: estadidad obtuvo mayoría en la segunda pregunta El Nuevo Día December 4, 2012 February 16, 2013 February 1, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130201090128/http://www.elnuevodia.com/casablancaestadidadobtuvomayoriaenlasegundapregunta-1400565.html dead On December 11, 2012, the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico enacted a concurrent resolution to "request the President and the Congress of the United States, to respond diligently and effectively, and to act on the demand of the people of Puerto Rico, as freely and democratically expressed in the plebiscite held on November 6, 2012, to end, once and for all, its current form of territorial status and to begin the process of admission of Puerto Rico as a State."Thomas Rivera-Schatz Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon Thomas Rivera Schatz Jenniffer González http://www.puertoricoreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-concurrent-resolution.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20130112212628/http://www.puertoricoreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-concurrent-resolution.pdf usurped January 12, 2013 Concurrent Resolution Puerto Rico Report December 11, 2012 February 19, 2013 http://www.senadopr.us/Proyectos%20del%20Senado/rks0067-12%20(LF-246).pdf Resolucion Concurrente del Senado 67 2013-01-01 2020-09-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20200930135817/http://www.senadopr.us/Proyectos%20del%20Senado/rks0067-12%20(LF-246).pdf dead The PNP organized pro-statehood marches which were held on March 2, 2013, in both Puerto Rico and on the mainland demanding that the U.S. government honor the results of the referendum.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/16/puerto-rico-the-51st-state_n_2702982.html Puerto Rico, The 51st State? New Progressive Party Organizing Marches To Protest Political Status Huffington Post February 16, 2013 February 16, 2013 Hundreds of people participated in the pro-statehood marches which took place in San Juan, Orlando, and Washington DC on the 96th anniversary of the Jones Act, the 1917 law which gave Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship.http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/statehooders-rally-in-dc-orlando-pr-81724.html Statehooders rally in DC, Orlando, PR Caribbean Business March 2, 2013 March 3, 2013 https://archive.today/20130407220800/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/statehooders-rally-in-dc-orlando-pr-81724.html April 7, 2013 usurped mdy-all http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4351389,00.html Hundreds of Puerto Ricans march for statehood Ynetnews March 2, 2013 March 3, 2013 On April 10, 2013, it was announced that the White House would seek $2.5 million to hold another referendum as part of Obama's 2014 budget proposal (the money would fund both voter education and the plebiscite itself). This next referendum would be the first Puerto Rican status referendum to be financed by the federal government.Danica Coto http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-seeks-fund-new-puerto-rico-status-plebiscite US Seeks To Fund New Puerto Rico Status Plebiscite Associated Press April 10, 2013 July 14, 2013http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/plebiscite-funding-gains-ground-in-congress-86501.html Plebiscite funding gains ground in Congress Caribbean Business July 10, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130918015901/http://caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/plebiscite-funding-gains-ground-in-congress-86501.html September 18, 2013 July 14, 2013 usurped mdy-all Leaders of the PNP (party in favor of statehood) claimed that the announcement meant that the White House upheld the results of the 2012 referendum, while the PDP (party in favor of maintaining the status quo) claimed that the announcement meant the White House rejected the 2012 referendum. On May 15, 2013, non-voting Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi introduced the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act (113 hr 2000) to the House of Representatives, which if passed would ask Puerto Rican voters if they want Puerto Rico to be admitted as a state of the United States.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-status-idUSBRE94E11320130515 Bill in U.S. Congress seeks vote on Puerto Rican statehood Reuters May 15, 2013 May 20, 2013 http://www.puertoricoreport.org/pierluisi-introduces-historic-legislation/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135632/http://www.puertoricoreport.org/pierluisi-introduces-historic-legislation/ usurped September 27, 2013 Pierluisi Introduces Historic Legislation Puerto Rico Report May 15, 2013 May 15, 2013 If the Puerto Rican people support statehood, the bill would direct the president to introduce legislation within 180 days to admit Puerto Rico as a state of the union. Pierluisi said that his bill is "distinct" but "consistent" with the White House's proposal for a Puerto Rican vote. On June 17, 2013, Pierluisi said during a testimony before the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization that if the Obama administration refuses to act he will raise his case for Puerto Rican self-determination before the United Nations or any other appropriate international forum.Pedro Pierluisi 2013 Pedro Pierluisi, before the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmUuT6ycK10 June 20, 2013 YouTube Pierluisi said that the current territorial status has lost its democratic legitimacy and that the only paths forward are statehood or nationhood.Roque Planas http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/puerto-rico-united-nations_n_3460133.html Puerto Rico Statehood Fight Headed To United Nations, If White House Doesn't Act: Pierluisi (Video) The Huffington Post June 18, 2013 June 20, 2013 On July 10, 2013, A U.S. House subcommittee approved a budget bill which includes Obama's requested $2.5 million for a new Puerto Rican plebiscite, though the bill's ultimate fate is unclear because the Senate is pushing for a related yet different bill.Erik Wasson https://thehill.com/policy/finance/155768-house-panel-approves-funding-for-puerto-rico-status-vote/ House panel approves funding for Puerto Rico status vote The Hill https://web.archive.org/web/20130715035354/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/310181-house-panel-approves-funding-for-puerto-rico-status-vote July 15, 2013 July 10, 2013 July 14, 2013 live mdy-all One week later, on July 17, 2013, the House Appropriations Committee also approved the bill.http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=342784 Fiscal Year 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill Approved by Committee United States House Committee on Appropriations https://web.archive.org/web/20131012234131/http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=342784 October 12, 2013 July 17, 2013 July 24, 2013 live mdy-all It was reported on July 10, 2013, that Pierluisi had secured the support of at least 87 members of Congress across partisan lines for the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act. It was reported on July 24, 2013, that this number has increased to an even 100 congressional supporters.http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/pr-status-issue-heats-up-on-capitol-hill-86971.html PR status issue heats up on Capitol Hill Caribbean Business https://web.archive.org/web/20130728043733/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news/pr-status-issue-heats-up-on-capitol-hill-86971.html July 28, 2013 July 24, 2013 July 24, 2013 usurped mdy-all On August 6, 2013, reports put bill sponsorship at 120 members, giving it more supporters than 97.6% of all House bills and the fourth highest in Republican sponsorship.http://www.puertoricoreport.org/democrats-statehood-bill-fourth-highest-in-republican-sponsorship/ https://archive.today/20130816125019/http://www.puertoricoreport.org/democrats-statehood-bill-fourth-highest-in-republican-sponsorship/ usurped August 16, 2013 Democrat's Statehood Bill Fourth Highest in Republican Sponsorship Puerto Rico Report August 6, 2013 August 16, 2013 On August 1, 2013, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Puerto Rico's status as a direct result of the 2012 plebiscite vote and invited Governor Alejandro García Padilla, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, and pro-independence supporter Rubén Berríos to give testimony and answer questions from the committee.http://www.puertoricoreport.org/recap-three-views-on-puerto-ricos-status-expressed-at-senate-hearing/ https://archive.today/20130816124931/http://www.puertoricoreport.org/recap-three-views-on-puerto-ricos-status-expressed-at-senate-hearing/ usurped August 16, 2013 Statements from U.S. Senate Hearing on Puerto Rico Political Status Plebiscite 2013-08-05 2013-08-16 The 2014 budget bill included $2.5 million in funding for a future vote in Puerto Rico's political status. This referendum could be held at any time, as there was no deadline attached to the funds. http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/2374118_u-s-approves-funds-for-referendum-on-puerto-rico-s-status.html U.S. approves funds for referendum on Puerto Rico's status 2014-01-16 2014-01-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20140120064345/http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/2374118_u-s-approves-funds-for-referendum-on-puerto-rico-s-status.html 2014-01-20 dead http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/01/make_room_for_51st_star_spendi.html Make room for 51st star? Spending bill includes $2.5 million for vote on Puerto RIco statehood 2014-01-22 2014-01-22 The Puerto Rican status referendum, 2017 was held on June 11, 2017, with 97% voting for statehood but amid historically low turnout. There was another one in 2020 (Puerto Rican status referendum, 2020) and again in 2024 (see Puerto Rican status referendum, 2024). Although each had different choices, in both cases the top choice was Statehood. Additionally, a Pro-Statehood candidate won the Governor race in 2024. See also United States Puerto Rico District of Columbia statehood movement 51st state Sovereigntism (Puerto Rico) Political status of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (proposed state) Special Committee on Decolonization Proposed political status for Puerto Rico Statehood movement in Puerto Rico Further reading Report By the President's Task Force On Puerto Rico's Status (December 2005) - President William J. Clinton. Report By the President's Task Force On Puerto Rico's Status (December 2007) - President George W. Bush. Report By the President's Task Force On Puerto Rico's Status (March 2011) - President Barack Obama. Political Status of Puerto Rico: Options for Congress - Congressional Research Service (CRS Report) Puerto Rico's Political Status and the 2012 Plebiscite: Background and Key Questions – Congressional Research Service (CRS Report) References 2 Category:2012 referendums 2012 2 Status referendum Puerto Rico Category:Sovereignty referendums Category:Statehood movement in Puerto Rico Category:November 2012 in North America Category:Multiple-choice referendums