Puerto Rico Votes to Become the 51st US State

The people in Puerto Rico voted Tuesday in a non-binding referandum to become the 51st US state. Nearly 80% of the island’s electorate took part in the referendum and with almost all the votes counted, almost 54% have voted to change the island’s relationship with the US from a US territory to a US state.

 The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

The island is currently a US territory, which uses the dollar and whose citizens travel on US passports.

But it does not return senators to the US Congress and is represented in Washington by a non-voting delegate.

Almost 80% of the island’s electorate took part in the referendum, the fourth in the past 45 years.

With almost all the votes counted, almost 54% voted to change the island’s relationship with the US.