Thousands of Puerto Ricans are voting in historic elections that pit a pro-independence candidate against the current governor, who is seeking his third consecutive term.
Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the two main gubernatorial candidates wins.
If Jenniffer González of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party wins Tuesday's election, it will represent the first time in the island's history that the party has secured three consecutive terms.
But if Juan Dalmau, who ran for the Puerto Rican Independence Party and the Citizen Victory Movement, wins, it will be the first victory for a candidate who does not represent either of the two main parties that have dominated Puerto Rican politics for decades.
Behind González and Dalmau in the polls is Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party, who supports the island's territorial status. Also on the shortlist is Javier Jiménez from Proyecto Dignidad, a conservative party created in 2019.
Thousands of voters across the United States waited in long lines in the rain, holding umbrellas, undaunted by the heavy rain.
“I feel like for the first time there is an opportunity for change,” said Jorge Hernández, a 24-year-old arts student as he waited to cast his vote. “The bipartisanship is losing strength. I have faith that there can be real change.”
For decades, the New Progressive Party and the People's Democratic Party would receive at least 90% of all votes, but that began to change in 2016, with newer parties attracting more voters amid economic and political turmoil.
Like other voters, Hernandez said he was tired of the island's chronic blackouts and concerned about the lack of affordable housing.
Education, health and public safety were also on voters' minds, as they marveled at the long lines despite forecasters issuing warnings that flash flooding was possible for the capital of San Juan and other areas.
“I've never seen it like this,” said Nadja Oquendo, a 62-year-old retiree who has always participated in elections.
Faviola Alcalá, a professional surfer, said she was voting for the first time after registering at a university and was excited to see the line at her voting center.
“I love it,” he said, adding that he would like to see a breakup of Puerto Rico's two main parties and more opportunities for young people.
Among the voters waiting in the rain Tuesday morning was reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, who has criticized the pro-statehood party and made a brief appearance at Dalmau's campaign close on Sunday.
“I trust the people of Puerto Rico that we will make the right decision for the future of our people,” he told reporters.
The results could take a couple of days
In the 2020 election, it took four days for preliminary results to be released.
Puerto Rico's State Election Commission is still counting the more than 220,000 early and absentee votes it received, and officials from several political parties said the process is slow. The counting of those votes began more than two weeks later than usual.
Jessika Padilla, the commission's alternate chair, said at a news conference that about 40% of those votes had been counted as of Monday.
“This validation process is one that we will not take lightly,” he said.
More than 5,000 inmates of the approximately 7,400 in Puerto Rico have also voted, although it is unclear how many of those votes have been counted.
The commission and other officials are also receiving complaints about election crimes, including people who said they received early voting confirmations when they did not make such a request.
Meanwhile, generators have been sent to more than twenty voting centers to guarantee electricity given the chronic power outages that have hit Puerto Rico in recent years.
A question about political status and a symbolic vote
On Tuesday, voters will also be consulted for the seventh time about the political status of Puerto Rico. The non-binding referendum offers three options: statehood, independence and independence with free association, under which issues such as foreign affairs, US nationality and the use of the US dollar would be negotiated.
“We are going to work to give equality to our people,” said Jenniffer González of the pro-statehood party as she waited in line to vote.
Party officials have long noted that, despite being a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico receives unequal treatment under Medicaid, Medicare and other federal programs.
Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, a change in status requires approval by the United States Congress.
Additionally, Puerto Ricans on Tuesday can support Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in a symbolic vote if they wish. Although they have American nationality, those who live on the island do not have the right to vote in the United States presidential elections.
Nearly 2 million voters are eligible to participate in Tuesday's election, although it remains to be seen how many people will do so. Voter apathy has dominated recent elections.