New York – The president of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (DPPR), Charlie Rodríguez, said that the fourth ballot to symbolically vote for the president of the United States as part of the electoral package managed by the State Elections Commission (CEE) for the November 5 elections is a mandate of law.
In this context, Rodríguez, who supports statehood for Puerto Rico and is a member of the ruling New Progressive Party (PNP), stated that it is a consultation that should be carried out independently of the opposition of some political sectors on the island.
“This is a law that was passed a long time ago. What happened is that in 2020 it was amended to postpone it for four years; that is, it goes into effect now in 2024. There were attempts, particularly, by some legislators who identify with the national Republican Party to eliminate it, because the fear they have is that, if the people of Puerto Rico can vote, obviously with the vote they will punish Donald Trump. So they do not want Puerto Rico to appear giving the punishment to Donald Trump, because then they say that Trump will say, ‘you see, we cannot have them as states, they will be Democrats.’ It is not that they will be Democrats, it is that they do not want you (Trump). They do not want you because of how badly you have behaved with Puerto Rico. And many Republicans in Puerto Rico do not want Trump, and they have said it publicly. But they have no choice because that is the candidate. It is no longer the Republican Party, it is Trump’s party. They are no longer Republicans, now they are Trumpists,” he argued in an interview with El Diario.
Rodríguez is referring to the Electoral Code approved in June 2020 (Law No. 58 of 2020) by the New Progressive Party majority. The amended law included a subchapter establishing that there will be presidential elections in each general election, and that they will begin in 2024.
“It is hereby ordered, under the civil and fundamental right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, that, on the same day of each general election, beginning with the one held in the year 2024, every American citizen who is an eligible voter in Puerto Rico shall exercise and claim his or her right to vote to express his or her preference between the candidates for president and vice president of the United States of America,” reads Article 8.1.b. on Presidential Elections in the Electoral Code.
The statute, which governs electoral processes in the territory, expressly specifies the authorization for the use of public property and funds for the fourth ballot.
Asked if there is time to prepare and print the ballots given that the Democrats have a new virtual presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, following Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race and who has not yet been officially nominated, Rodriguez answered in the affirmative.
“They have time to do it. I assume that they already have the template prepared. It is a matter of including (the images of the candidates) as soon as the candidacy is officially announced. This would be at the end of August. The elections are on November 5. I think they would be in time to be able to prepare that ballot without any problem. It is a very simple ballot; what it has is the photo of the presidential candidates and you make the mark. So it is not at all complicated,” he said.
The former president of the Senate of Puerto Rico also added that they will be campaigning for Puerto Ricans to vote for Harris through the fourth ballot.
“The Democratic Party will be actively campaigning for the people of Puerto Rico to express their preference for Kamala Harris. It has no real effect because we are not a state, we do not have delegates in the Electoral College, so we are not worth ‘either for the pool or for the bank’; that is what the colony of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (ELA) reduces us to. But, at least, a preference is expressed, and I think it is good that people have the opportunity to express themselves democratically on such a fundamental issue, because, after all, whoever occupies the White House exerts an influence on the daily lives of Puerto Ricans,” said the president of the DPPR.
Because of Puerto Rican status as a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans can vote in Democratic primaries, but not in federal elections for president and other House and Senate positions. However, Puerto Ricans in the states can exercise that right once they have registered.
The Democratic Party has called for greater participation in the handling of the fourth ballot
Rodriguez said that it will be necessary to wait until after the Democratic National Convention is held in Chicago, between August 19 and 22, to know for sure what decision the CEE will make regarding the participation of both that national party and the Republican party in the management of the fourth ballot on election day.
“We had already held a meeting with the alternate president of the State Election Commission to tell her that we want to participate, and that we want to be given equal treatment as other political parties that participate in the electoral process in Puerto Rico. Of course, in our case it is a more limited participation because we do not intend to have officials in the administrative structure of the CEE, but we do intend to have active participation in the decision-making that has to do with this fourth ballot,” the New Progressive Party member added.
The statesman added that the electoral commissioner and the Democratic Party’s alternate on the island will also address this issue.
“We also have a letter that we sent to the president indicating what the participation we want to have consists of. Obviously, the incoming president Luis Dávila Pernas will continue this. So this remains to be seen. I imagine that, after the (Democratic) convention, there will be a meeting with the president to go into the details of what the participation of the Democratic Party will be in this process of that fourth ballot,” he added.
In response to questions about the limited funds in the CEE to comply with the electoral package and the questions from opponents of the PNP about the futility of the fourth ballot, Rodríguez responded: “That is the excuse that is always used by those who know they are going to lose. The democratic process is costly and the expressed will of the people counts. No one can be against the use of money, well used, to guarantee the public expression of our people.”
“The issue of status is one of marked public interest to the point that the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico has pointed out that public funds can be used… The truth is that the expense is minimal. This is the argument they always raise; they raised it in 2012, in 2017, in 2020,” added the interviewee in specific reference to the plebiscite processes carried out on the island in those years.
Seventh status plebiscite on the same day as the elections
On Election Day, there will also be a fifth ballot to choose between the non-territorial options of independence, statehood and free association.
This seventh plebiscite was called by Governor Pedro Pierluisi, of the PNP, under Law 165 of 2020 or “Law to Implement the Petition for Statehood of the 2020 Plebiscite.”
At the moment, the consultation is being contested by the leadership of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), while supporters of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) asked to leave the ballot blank, because it does not include the current system of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (ELA).
Like the PIP, the Popular Party also considers the consultation to be a move by the PNP to attract pro-statehood voters to the polls.
Keep reading:
Puerto Rico: Democratic Party platform includes language for status project without the Commonwealth
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Puerto Rico: Statehood delegate does not support fourth ballot to elect U.S. president
PIP challenges before the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico the local plebiscite called by Governor Pierluisi