Election Results in Puerto Rico Are No Different Than the Election Results for the Mayor of the City of New York

What You Should Know
By Senator Rev Rubén Díaz 

32nd Senatorial District

You should know that on Sunday, June 11, 2017, the election results for Puerto Rico’s referendum showed that 97 percent of the votes favored Statehood for Puerto Rico.

Following the election, Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rosello proudly announced in a press statement: “Today, we the people of Puerto Rico are sending a strong and clear message to the US Congress … and to the world … claiming our equal rights as American citizens.”

It is confusing to me that instead, there are more people focusing on the low voter turnout of 23 percent, as if there should be some question about the final results.

It is important for you to know that voter turnout in New York City’s Mayoral election in 2013 was only 24 percent of registered voters, the lowest turnout election in years, yet no one questioned the results.

In fact, the media shouted from the rooftops that Bill de Blasio won his election against Joe Lhota in a landslide, and that his victory was a mandate.

No one focused on the fact that more than 75 percent of the New York City’s registered voters stayed home.

Yet these same cheerleaders want to sit back and question the real will of Puerto Ricans.

Statehood for Puerto Rico was decided by the voters.

I have always stood for Statehood for Puerto Rico, and I hope the elections results will be respected the same way election results are respected in our city.

I am Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.