The requirements for voting in Puerto Rico are different from other states in the U.S. and here's what you need to know.
With the presidential election a little over a week away, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are competing for voters of color, including Puerto Rican voters. Latinos make up about 6% of eligible voters, and roughly half of them are Puerto Rican, according to the Washington Post.
RELATED: Who's winning the race for president? Latest poll numbers as final full week kicks offThe criteria for voting in Puerto Rico differ from other places and here’s how voting rights work on the island territory of the U.S. Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in general and presidential elections despite being U.S. citizens.However, Puerto Ricans can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. and are registered to vote.In addition to Puerto Rico, residents of the other four U.S. territories also cannot vote in general elections, per the National Archives.gov. Except for residents of American Samoa, people born in the other four American territories are U.S. citizens and can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.To register to vote in Puerto Rico you must be a U.S. citizen, have a home on the island, be 18 years old on or before November 5, 2024, and not be legally incapacitated, according to the State Election Commission. Residents cannot register to vote on Election Day in Puerto Rico.Absentee voting is allowed in Puerto Rico. To qualify, the individual must be outside the territory on Election Day, an active voter registered only with the State Elections Commission and a resident of Puerto Rico. Voters can also request an absentee ballot by mail if they choose to. Early voting runs from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4 and is limited to certain voters and must be requested on or before 50 days prior to the day of the general in-person vote. Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time and voters are required to bring a photo ID, such as your driver's license, voter registration card, or passport.Donald Trump’s campaign is trying to distance itself from Tony Hinchcliffe, a comic, who made several racist and crude insults toward minorities during a Trump rally in New York over the weekend.During the event, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage," angering artists and some Hispanic Republicans.RELATED: Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally stirs outrage with offensive, racist rhetoricHinchcliffe also made lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and Black people, all key voters in the election.Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny announced he was supporting Kamala Harris by sharing a video of the Democratic presidential nominee on Sunday shortly after Hinchcliffe’s comments, the Associated Press reported.
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