Puerto Ricans should have the ability to vote in Congress—and for President

Puerto Ricans cannot vote for US President, despite being US citzens and having their own local government.^[1] This exception for Puerto Rico alienates nearly 3.2 million people from the voting process.^[2] Further, Puerto Ricans are not represented in Congress. Puerto Rico is a colony in all but name, and it's time to make sure they're fully represented in the voting process. Puerto Rico does send delegates to presidential nominating conventions; however, they cannot vote in the US general election.^[1] While they are subject to federal laws, they lack voting representation in Congress. The island does have a congressional delegate, but they cannot cast a meaningful vote. Jenniffer González-Colón, the representative for Puerto Rico in the US House of Representatives, can serve on committees and vote on legislation, with one caveat: if she casts the deciding vote on legislation, the House votes again—without her.^[3] With huge pushes in the US to get out to vote and get more Americans registered to vote, it's unacceptable that a population twice the size of Manhattan can't participate in the electoral process. Puerto Rico needs to become a state to vote in our elections in a meaningful way.