Puerto Rico will hold a seventh referendum on the island’s political status in Nov. 2024 after Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia signed an executive order referring the measure to the ballot.

The ballot measure asks voters to choose one of the following three options for Puerto Rico’s political status:

• (A) Statehood;
• (B) Independence; or
• (C) Sovereignty in free association with the United States.

The different options are as follows; however, the results of the referendum are nonbinding because any changes to Puerto Rico’s statehood require action by the United States Congress.

• Statehood: Puerto Rico would become the 51st state to join the United States. Statehood would give Puerto Rico the same rights as other states, representation in the United States Congress, and the ability to vote for President. Residents of Puerto Rico would be required to pay federal personal income tax.
• Independence: Puerto Rico would become an independent sovereign nation and would create its own constitution. The country would develop its own government and economy. Puerto Ricans who are residents of the island would retain citizenship, though children born after Puerto Rico’s independence would not be considered U.S. citizens.
• Free Association: Puerto Rico would become a sovereign nation outside the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution. However, the island would maintain a free and voluntary political association with the United States. An agreement of free association would delegate certain powers, typically those regarding military, trade, and currency, to the U.S. federal government. U.S. citizenship would be granted to those born to at least one parent who is U.S. citizen, though birth in Puerto Rico would cease to be a basis for U.S. citizenship and nationality.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pierluisi said, “Puerto Rico has the right and moral obligation to continue exerting pressure, reiterating its right to self-determination. As many times as we have to vote to end the colony, we must do so. Enough of the inequality. Our people deserve more. The colonies cannot have a place in the United States.”

Puerto Rico last voted on a statehood referendum in 2020 in which voters were asked if Puerto Rico should become a state. The measure was approved with 52% in favor of statehood. As the ballot measure was approved, the governor was authorized to appoint a seven-member commission to represent Puerto Rico in matters and negotiations related to achieving statehood. The commission was organized to develop a transition plan, which the governor could approve or reject, and present the plan to Congress and the President.

On June 11, 2017, Puerto Rico voted on a political status referendum, which gave voters three options: (a) current territorial status; (b) statehood; and (c) free association/independence. The option of statehood received 97% of the vote.

On Nov. 6, 2012, Puerto Rico held its fourth vote on the island’s territorial status. The referendum was structured as two questions. The first question asked “Do you agree that Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of territorial status?” A total of 54.3% rejected continuing Puerto Rico’s territorial status. As a majority rejected the first question, results for the second question were counted. The second question asked voters about their preferred non-territorial status: statehood, free association, or independence. Statehood received a majority of the vote, 61.2% for the first time in the territory’s history.

The third vote on Puerto Rico’s relationship to the United States was held on Dec. 13, 1998. Voters were given five options: territorial commonwealth, free association, statehood, independence, and none of the above. The option none of the above received the highest proportion of votes at 50.5%. Statehood received the next highest proportion of votes at 46.6%. Independence received 2.6 %, and free association received 0.3%. Puerto Rico’s status as a commonwealth received 0.1% of the vote.

The second vote on the territory’s political status was on Nov. 14, 1993, in which 48.9% of voters favored remaining as a commonwealth, 46.6% of voters favored statehood, and 4.5% of voters favored independence.

Puerto Rico first voted on its political status in 1967. The United States Congress sanctioned the referendum. The option to remain a commonwealth of the United States received 60.4% of the vote, while statehood received 39% and independence received 0.6%.

Puerto Rico was incorporated into the United States in 1898, following the Spanish–American War. The federal government recognized the territory’s governance over internal matters in 1950, and the island adopted a constitution and republican form of government in 1952. As of 2020, no changes in political status had occurred since the 1950s. Under the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has jurisdiction over Puerto Rico.

Citizens of Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States. Puerto Rico does not have representation with voting privileges in the United States Congress nor the ability to vote for President in general elections. However, Puerto Ricans do vote for a resident commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives. The resident commissioner is permitted to introduce legislation and vote on committees.