How do Puerto Rican voting rights work?

The Brief 

• • Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in presidential elections despite being U.S. citizens.
  • Puerto Ricans can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. and are registered voters.
  • Registering to vote in Puerto Rico requires the individual to be a U.S. citizen and have a home on the island.

With the presidential election a little over a week away, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are competing for voters of color, including Puerto Rican voters. 

Latinos make up about 6% of eligible voters, and roughly half of them are Puerto Rican, according to the Washington Post. 

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The criteria for voting in Puerto Rico differ from other places and here’s how voting rights work on the island territory of the U.S. 

Are Puerto Ricans able to vote in U.S. presidential elections?

Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in general and presidential elections despite being U.S. citizens.

However, Puerto Ricans can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. and are registered to vote.

In addition to Puerto Rico, residents of the other four U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) also cannot vote in general elections, per the National Archives.gov. 

Except for residents of American Samoa, people born in the other four American territories are U.S. citizens and can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.

Voter registration in Puerto Rico

To register to vote in Puerto Rico you must be a U.S. citizen, have a home on the island, be 18 years old on or before November 5, 2024, and not be legally incapacitated, according to the State Election Commission. 

Can you register to vote on Election Day in Puerto Rico?

Residents cannot register to vote on Election Day in Puerto Rico.

Are you able to vote absentee in Puerto Rico?

Absentee voting is allowed in Puerto Rico. To qualify, the individual must be outside the territory on Election Day, an active voter registered only with the State Elections Commission and a resident of Puerto Rico. Voters can also request an absentee ballot by mail if they choose to. 

Is there early voting in Puerto Rico?

Early voting runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4 and is limited to certain voters and must be requested on or before 50 days prior to the day of the general in-person vote. Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time and voters are required to bring a photo ID, such as your driver’s license, voter registration card, or passport.

Comic makes offensive remarks about Puerto Rico during Trump rally

Donald Trump’s campaign is trying to distance itself from Tony Hinchcliffe, a comic, who made several racist and crude insults toward minorities during a Trump rally in New York over the weekend.

During the event, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” angering artists and some Hispanic Republicans.

RELATED: Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally stirs outrage with offensive, racist rhetoric

Hinchcliffe also made lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and Black people, all key voters in the election.

Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny announced he was supporting Kamala Harris by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential nominee on Sunday shortly after Hinchcliffe’s comments, the Associated Press reported. 

The Source 

• Information for this story was provided by the Elections Commission for Puerto Rico, the Washington Post, AARP, the National Archives, and the Associated Press.  The Elections Commission has information on voter registration, voting requirements, and requesting ballots on its website. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.