Posted on 03/20/2006 9:34:22 AM PST by george wythe
The Supreme Court turned down an appeal Monday that sought to open U.S. presidential elections to voters in Puerto Rico.
The court's action, taken without comment, is the latest setback in a long-running legal fight over voting rights of residents of the U.S. territory.
Attorney Gregorio Igartua, who filed the appeal, said that "for 107 years and 22 presidential elections since Puerto Rico became part of the United States, the American citizens of Puerto Rico" have been unfairly treated. He told justices that the residents have "an inferior type of American citizenship."
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against Igartua, saying the United States must amend the Constitution, or Puerto Rico must become a state before its residents can vote for president.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
No representation without taxation.
How would voters in a non-state by choice, fit into the electorial college ?
While we're at it, let's repeal the 23rd Amendment. All that ever did was give the Dems a 3-0 electoral headstart.
"...the American citizens of Puerto Rico" have been unfairly treated.
____________
Take a poll in Puerto Rico. Ask them if they're loyal to the U.S., or to their "country" of Puerto Rico.
They're only "American citizens" when it's convenient.
DISCLAIMER: Many Puerto Ricans serve in the military...kudos to them!
become a state - then they can vote. They can't have their cake and eat it too
If they want to vote Puerto Rican can become a state and/or pay taxes.
Court: Puerto Ricans Can't Vote
Posted on 10/13/2000 16:33:43 PDT by Pokey78
A federal appeals court on Friday ruled that residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in presidential elections unless the island territory becomes a state or the Constitution is amended.The ruling overturns a lower court decision that said Puerto Rico's 2.4 million voters had the right to cast presidential ballots.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cited Article II of the Constitution, which says only states can send electors to the Electoral College. Voters in the District of Columbia were granted presidential voting rights in 1961 by the 23rd Amendment.
The voting-rights case was brought by two groups - one of lifelong Puerto Ricans claiming an inherent right to vote as U.S. citizens, and a second of former residents of the 50 states who returned to Puerto Rico and lost their vote in presidential elections.
The same court ruled against Gregorio Igartua, one of the 11 plaintiffs in this case, in a similar lawsuit in 1994. The court said Friday that nothing had changed since 1994.
Puerto Ricans are allowed to vote in presidential primaries. Congress made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens in 1917, and they are allowed to vote if the become residents of the mainland. The territory has 3.5 million residents and would have 8 electors in the Electoral College, if they were allowed to cast presidential ballots.
Dont assume that they would all vote Democractic. There is quite a viable Republican party there. In fact there current non voting Congressman is a Republican
http://www.house.gov/fortuno/
That's just what we need. 8 more democratic electoral votes--with 2 new democratic senators and 6 more democratic congressmen. No thanks.
Well, that's part two of this prank. In order to figure out the Electoral College, Puerto Rico will have to be allowed to have 5 Congressmen and 2 Senators.
The Democrats will keep trying until the US Supreme Court has been changed to their taste. This lawsuit has been brought up several times already.
Right you are! If they want to vote, they should pay income tax.
You don't pay(like the rest of us), you don't play.
Que lastima!
Of course, you're right. Not all will vote Democratic, just the majority.
Every now and then, a Democratic state like Massachusetts will elect a Republican to statewide office, or Puerto Rico will elect its first Republican delegate.
Nevertheless, the net effect of allowing Puerto Ricans to vote will be a padded Democratic voters roll.
"become a state - then they can vote. They can't have their cake and eat it too"
Exactly. But that'll never happen, why give up all the benefits of being a Puerto Rican?
It's time to cut PR loose and end the foolishness that's been going on for way too many years now.
The arithmetic for the allocation of Congressmen would have to change otherwise the other 50 States would lose 5 Congressmen. And it is mostly Red Stated that are losing population.
Then, of course, the other US Commonwealth (Northern Mariana Islands) would be allowed Senators and Congressmen.
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