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Did you know : Puerto Ricans can only vote in the US presidential primaries but not in the general elections

July 30, 2024 12:51 PM

While speaking to a young man from Puerto Rico he told me this and I couldn't believe it: Puerto Ricans can only vote in U.S. presidential primaries but not in the general election. So what's the point of voting in the primaries at all?

Only states can vote - Puerto Rico is not a state, Puerto Ricans cannot vote

When I asked the Puerto Rican dude why, he said:

"Well voting in the primaries allow the candidates to come to Puerto Rico and have $10,000 per plate dinners for fundraising purposes; however, when real elections come around we are not allowed to vote."

Here is the legal reason:

Puerto Ricans can vote in presidential primaries but not in the general presidential elections due to Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory rather than a state.

The U.S. Constitution grants the right to vote in presidential elections to states and the District of Columbia.

Since Puerto Rico is neither, its residents do not have the right to vote in the general presidential election. However, political parties include Puerto Rico in the primary elections to allow Puerto Ricans to have a say in choosing party nominees.

Actually my conversation with the young Puerto Rican man started with "if Hawaii is a state then why is Puerto Rico not a state." I am not going to tell you exactly what he replied but it starts with the letter "R".

Do you know what else I found out?

Everything that is shipped to Puerto Rico must arrive via an American ship. Because of that everything that is shipped to Puerto Rico goes through Orlando, Florida. what is that all about?

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