Puerto Rico referendum backs calls for island to become 51st US state

Participation rate low at nearly 23 per cent with roughly 2.26 million registered voters

‘Puerto Rico’s voters have overwhelmingly chosen for the territory to become the 51st US state in a non-binding referendum, the island’s governor said.
Ricardo Rossello said that voters have sent a strong and clear message to the US Congress and the world.
However, a low turnout and a boycott by several opposition parties called into question the validity of the vote.
More than 480,000 votes were cast for statehood, more than 7,500 for free association or independence and more than 6,500 for independence, with roughly half of polling centres reporting.
The participation rate was low at nearly 23 per cent with roughly 2.26 million registered voters.’
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