New York – The Democratic Party in Puerto Rico (DPPR) estimated the cost of the presidential primary on the island next, Sunday, April 28, at less than $100,000 dollars, after the approval of an alternative process to carry out the consultation.
Charlie Rodríguez, president of DPPR, confirmed in an interview with El Diario that, although the State Election Commission (CEE) had budgeted $1 million dollars to carry out the event, about $66,000 has been used so far.
“The Fiscal Oversight Board…approved $1 million for the Democratic presidential primaries. But, as president of the Democratic Party in Puerto Rico, I said, ‘no, I have to review it; I think we have to have a primary where we spend less.’ Although we had $1 million authorized, what had been spent until last week (April 8) was about $66,000 dollars. I understand that, between now and the primary, it will not exceed $100,000. So we are saving a substantial amount,” highlighted the member of the ruling New Progressive Party (PNP).
Rodríguez explained that the Rules and Statutes Committee of the National Democratic Party (DNC) authorized amending the Puerto Rico Delegate Selection Plan so that there are only 10 voting centers, eight in each of the senatorial districts, and two in the municipality islands of Vieques and Culebra, respectively.
“We have established one voting center per senatorial district, so we are going to have fewer centers open. We are going to have primaries that allow the democratic will of the people without having to spend a lot of money. We are satisfied because we are saving money for the people of PR,” highlighted the statesman.
The former president of the Senate of Puerto Rico added that they chose not to use the electoral counting machines to further reduce expenses.
“We are not going to be using the electoral counting machines (that count the votes) because the rent was very expensive. For that counting machine, a special ballot is used that costs more money to print and so on; so we are saving that money,” he explained about the processes that will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To participate in the event, the person must be registered to vote and affiliated with the Democratic Party in the territory.
“Every voter must be duly registered and active in the Electoral Registry of Puerto Rico and with their electoral identification card or driver’s license or passport to identify themselves on the electoral list; and he has to join the Democratic Party if he hasn’t already done so; and once he has done it, then the ballot is given to him,” Rodríguez recalled.
Confined people will vote early this Friday
As part of the electoral process, those confined or prisoners in prisons in the country will vote in advance tomorrow, Friday.
“Puerto Rico is the only jurisdiction under the American flag where inmates can vote; and, in fact, already on Friday (April 26) in the 33 penal institutions in PR and the federal prison, the inmates who are registered to vote will be exercising their right to vote. They vote early, although the votes are not counted until once the April 28 process is concluded in the 10 voting centers on the island,” he revealed.
On the ballot that will be delivered to the voters, the voter must select a presidential candidate with his or her group of delegates. The voter must make a valid mark (X) inside the rectangle below the number of the presidential candidate of his selection to vote for the corresponding group of delegates. The person can only vote for one candidate; If he does otherwise, he will invalidate the ballot. The names that appear on the ballot are Joe Biden, Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson.
Puerto Ricans on the island do not vote in the US general elections, but they do in the presidential primaries
Because it is a territory, Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote in federal general elections. However, through the presidential primaries, they can select the delegates who will represent them at the national conventions of both the Democratic and Republican Parties.
In that sense, Rodríguez highlighted the importance of Puerto Ricans on the island going to vote this Sunday to emphasize the importance of the Democratic presidential nominee taking into account the issues and issues that concern the population.
“You will be voting for the delegates who are committed to that candidate. The delegates who are elected by the direct vote of the Democratic people, and who in addition to nominating the presidential candidate, have another very important role, the promotion of the platform, of the government program of the Democratic Party, which it is important to be able to incorporate into the program of government the commitment to Puerto Rico, since we cannot vote for the president in the general election due to our colonial position, at least we can influence the process of nominating the candidate, and above all, the adoption of what should be the government program or platform and that measures that are beneficial to Puerto Rico are included, such as the extension of the SSI (Supplemental Security Income Program) and also a measure that allows Puerto Ricans to resolve their territorial and colonial dilemma,” he stated. the president of the DPPR.
How many delegates does PR have?
Puerto Rico will contribute 65 delegates to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. That amount is more than 24 states and territories. Of the 65 delegates, 36 will be selected in this Sunday’s presidential primary. Others will be elected at the Puerto Rico Democratic Party State Convention to be held on June 8, while five are automatic delegates (Governor Pedro Pierluisi and four leaders of the country’s political parties).
Rodríguez explained that, in the case of PR, Biden was the only candidate for whom 102 people showed willingness to be his delegates and occupy one of the 36 positions available per district in Sunday’s primary.
However, as long as there is more than one candidate in the race, national parties are required to hold primaries.
On March 12, Biden secured his presidential nomination with victories in Georgia and Mississippi. By that date, the president had 1,972 accumulated delegates, five more than those required to secure the designation.
That same day, his rival, Republican Donald Trump, obtained the necessary delegates to be nominated as a presidential candidate for that party, with the votes obtained in the state of Washington.
However, the nominations will not be official or effective until the respective conventions are held. The Republican Party will take place from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee.
El Diario contacted those in charge of the Republican Party on the island by phone and by email to inquire about the presidential primaries on the island, but they did not respond to the multiple messages left.
Republicans held caucuses in Puerto Rico on April 21
Last Sunday, April 21, the Republicans on the island carried out the delegate selection process, but through a caucus in which, approximately, 77% of the 1,340 eligible members participated in the process. Trump was the only candidate on the ballot.
In Rodríguez’s opinion, Trump does not have the favor of the Puerto Rican people. The spokesman for the Democrats on the island considered that Puerto Ricans on and off the island are aware that the president who has helped the island the most has been Biden.
“Biden has been the president who has given the most federal allocations to PR in parity, and when I say parity, in equality with the states,” he mentioned.
“Biden has committed to extending the SSI program to Puerto Rico, which does not exist on the island and would be essential for children and people aged 65 or older,” he continued.
The New Progressive insisted on the billions of dollars allocated to PR for the repair of the electrical grid and renewable energy projects.
In that sense, he highlighted the elimination of the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration for the use of federal funds for the recovery and reconstruction of the island after hurricanes María and Irma.
“In the same way, Puerto Ricans who live on the mainland, in Florida, in New York, Georgia, Texas, because Puerto Ricans are like white rice, they are everywhere; I invite you to go and vote for President Biden, because Biden has treated Puerto Rico fairly, while what Trump did was mistreat PR. Everyone remembers that scene where he threw paper towels at us in a disrespectful way, and Then when he said that he was willing to negotiate with Denmark to exchange PR with Greenland…”, the interviewee compared.
Data from the Pew Research Center (Pew Research Center) from 2023 based on Census information shows that about 5.8 million Puerto Ricans live in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia. This population can vote in general elections and other federal electoral events if they are located on the mainland. 21% of that total resides in Florida, followed by 17% in New York, and 8% in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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