comments_image -

There's a Reason for Low Voter Turnout in Puerto Rico

Statehood and the right to vote.
June 2, 2008  |  
 
Advertisement
 

And guess why :

BECAUSE PUERTO RICANS KNOW THEY CAN'T VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

"Most people in Puerto Rico, I would venture to guess, they are not even aware that there's a primary going on," said Luis Pabón-Roca, a local political analyst.

He said the political atmosphere on the island this week is subdued compared to the fever that sweeps the island before local elections.

Some poll workers in small towns started abandoning the polling stations because turnout was so low, he said.

Part of the reason for the lack of interest, he said, is because voters feel the primary isn't meaningful since Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general election.

The Democratic and Republican parties run the primaries and caucuses, and they allow U.S. territories, such as the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to take part in the process.

But only the 50 states and the District of Columbia vote in the general election.

El Nuevo Día reports the Board of Elections expected to have 600.000 voters. The Clinton campaign bargained on a million and more. Less than 400.000 people woke up this morning with the primaries in their minds.

As I said, when it comes to that "popular vote" tomfoolery, my people are not stupid. Puerto Ricans know their vote doesn't count.

Unfortunately, too many US voters have no idea about the political realities of Puerto Rico. And that's what's so indecent about the Clintonistas using the Puerto Rican turnout to solidify their claims of entitlement to the nomination.

submit to reddit

-
Email
Print
Share
LIKED THIS ARTICLE? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Stay up to date with the latest AlterNet headlines via email
See more stories tagged with: presidential election, voting rights, puerto rico
Advertisement
Most Read
Most Emailed
Most Discussed
On REDDIT
On DIGG
 
loading most read content ..
Advertisement
Prohibition, 2012: Senate Bans Fake Pot, 'Bath Salts', 2C-E in Amendment Added to FDA Safety and Innovation Act

By Kristen Gwynne | AlterNet

 
 
Appalachian Women Lead Dramatic Protest Against Mountaintop Removal: Interview With Marilyn Mullens

By Jeff Biggers | AlterNet

 
 
Amazon Communities Develop Innovative Water Solutions After Environmental Devastation

By Tara Lohan | AlterNet

 
 
Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker Calls Drug War a "Nightmare," Tweets About Racist Incarceration

By Kristen Gwynne | AlterNet

 
 
Breaking: Obama Campaign Stop at Factory Farm Propaganda Site, Billed as "Grassroots Event"

By Dave Murphy | AlterNet

 
 
Amazon.com Becomes 16th Corporation to Dump ALEC

By Rebekah Wilce | PR Watch

 
 
DNC Finally Helps Scott Walker Opponent Raise Money for Recall Election

By Lauren Kelley | AlterNet

 
 
OWS Librarians Sue Mayor Bloomberg, NYPD, and City of New York Over November 15 Middle-of-the-Night Raid

By Lauren Kelley | AlterNet

 
 
LA Becomes Nation's Largest City to Ban Plastic Bags; Also Requiring Fee for Paper Bags

By Lauren Kelley | AlterNet

 
 
Wall Street to Obama Campaign: 'You Hurt Our Feelings!'

By Adele M. Stan | AlterNet

 
 
 
 
 
loading ...
POWERED BY DIGG'S USERS
 
[ page served from web 2 ]