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My Vote Doesn’t Count: Why Puerto Ricans Can’t Vote in U.S. Presidential Election My Vote Doesn't Count: Why Puerto Ricans Can't Vote For President

By Racquel Stephen

Laizamar Mendez-Cordero:
I’m not foreign. I’m Puerto Rican. I’m not foreign dude.

Reporter:
Like most Puerto Ricans that come to the United States for better opportunities. Laizamar Mendez-Cordero is often mistaken for an immigrant.

Mendez:
Do you have to show the passport to travel here? That was one of the main questions. I go ‘No. We are U.S. territory”

Reporter:
Although, Puerto Ricans, are US citizens they cannot vote for President.

Mendez:
They ask me why, and I go like, I don’t know, we just don’t vote for President,

Reporter:
Dignelly Torres spoke with SU’s International Relations Professor, Francine D’Amico, who says the relationship between the US and Puerto Rico is an undemocratic arrangement.

Francine D’Amico:
Puerto Rico has some autonomy in self-governance, but no autonomy in foreign affairs. Its foreign affairs are completely controlled by the United States.

Reporter 2:
In other words, Puerto Ricans can manage their own government, but has no say with the interests of their home country, the United States.

D’Amico:
It’s a paternalistic relationship.

Reporter 2:
And as the parent, the United States provides Citizenship, Federal benefits and funding, Military protection, and tax-free living… but takes away voting for president. In one word…Puerto Rico is a commonwealth.

D’Amico says, there’s only one way for Puerto Ricans on the island to be able to vote for United States President.

D’Amico:
To do that, it would have to be a state.

Reporter:
Now that Mendez resides in the US. She will be able to vote for president once she registers to vote. but she agrees that the differences in the education systems are unfair.

Mendez:
We have to learn everything about the presidents. We have to learn everything about how the Legislative part works. How you vote for president, on how everything goes. Why don’t you do the same for US territories.

Reporter:
A question that has yet to be answered.

Reporter 1 & 2:
Yo soy Racquel Stephen y Yo Soy Dignelly Torres. NCC sabe, y ahora tu Tambien

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- (NCC News)- The relationship between the United States and its territories has always been swept under the rug.  Many are oblivious to what land masses are territories, and what that title really means.

The U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands are all U.S. territories, but the one that resonates with most is Puerto Rico.

However, when Puerto Ricans, like Laizamar Mendez Cordero, move to the mainland in search of better opportunities.  she is often mistaken for an immigrant.

“Do you have to show the passport to travel here? That was one of the main questions.  I go ‘No.  We are U.S. territory’, ” said Mendez.

Although being from a U.S. territory automatically grants citizenship, those on the island cannot exercise the one right that is deemed most American…voting in the U.S. presidential elections.

Syracuse University’s International Relations Professor, Francine D’Amico, call this arrangement undemocratic.   She continues by saying, “Puerto Rico has some autonomy in self-governance, but no autonomy in foreign affairs.  Its foreign affairs are completely controlled by the United States.”

When the U.S. attained Puerto Rico, the treaty modeled that of a paternalistic relationship.  As the parent, the United States offered Puerto Ricans, still living on the island, citizenship, federal benefits and funding, military protection, and tax-free living… but took away voting for president.  A trade that was appealing to the low economic stature of the island (and its fellow territories).

However, if citizens from these territories move to the United States, and establish residency, they will be able to register to vote for president.

With the next presidential election on the horizon, Mendez now has the opportunity to finally cast her ballot like a true American.

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