2020 Puerto Rican status referendum facts for kids
| 2020 Puerto Rican status referendum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| "¿Debe Puerto Rico ser admitido inmediatamente dentro de la Unión como un Estado?" (Spanish) "Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the Union as a State?" |
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| Location | Puerto Rico, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | November 3, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Website: Puerto Rico State Commission on Elections | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On November 3, 2020, people in Puerto Rico voted in a special election called a referendum. They were asked if Puerto Rico should become a U.S. State. This vote happened on the same day as other important elections, like choosing the Governor. This was the sixth time Puerto Rico held a vote like this to decide its future. The last one was in 2017.
This vote was not binding. This means that even if most people voted "yes," Puerto Rico would not automatically become a state. Only the United States Congress can add new states. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are the main political groups in Congress. They both said they would support Puerto Rico becoming a state if its people wanted it. The question asked in this referendum was similar to the questions used when Alaska and Hawaii became states in the 1950s.
Contents
What is a Referendum?
A referendum is a direct vote by the people on a specific question. It is often about a new law or a big decision. In this case, the question was about Puerto Rico's future. It asked if Puerto Rico should join the United States as a new state.
Why Did Puerto Rico Vote?
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. This means it is part of the U.S. but not a state. People in Puerto Rico have debated for a long time about their future. They want to decide if they should become a state, stay a territory, or become an independent country. This vote was one way to find out what the people wanted.
Results of the Vote
More people voted "yes" to becoming a state than "no." About 52% of the voters chose "yes." However, not everyone in Puerto Rico voted in this election. Many people did not participate. Because the vote was not binding, the U.S. Congress still needs to make the final decision.
What Happens Next?
Even though the people voted "yes," Puerto Rico is still a U.S. territory. The results of the referendum were sent to the U.S. Congress. Congress will decide if they want to make Puerto Rico the 51st state. This process can take a long time.
See also
In Spanish: Plebiscito sobre el estatus político de Puerto Rico de 2020 para niños
