Puerto Rico approves statehood in non-binding referendum

June 12 (UPI) -- Voters in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico approved a non-binding referendum to seek statehood.

Twenty-three percent of eligible voters participated in Sunday's referendum, with 97 percent choosing statehood over independence or continuation of Puerto Rico's territorial status.

Opposition leaders led a boycott of the vote, calling the referendum futile because in their view, the U.S. Congress would not approve statehood. About 30 percent cast blank or otherwise invalid ballots.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello led the referendum effort and support for statehood as the best way for the island territory to overcome a $73 billion debt. Puerto Rico came under court protection after Rossello declared the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Although the 3 million residents of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, advocates for statehood say the island's current status makes it harder to meet its financial obligations. They add that statehood could increase federal spending, the BBC reported Monday.

Statehood would allow Puerto Ricans to claim full welfare benefits available to U.S. citizens, but would compel residents to begin paying federal taxes on income obtained on the island. They currently do not cast votes for the presidency.

"From today going forward, the federal government will no longer be able to ignore the voice of the majority of the American citizens in Puerto Rico," Mr. Rosselló said on Sunday night.

If made a state, Puerto Rico would be the poorest of the 51 states. The Republican-majority U.S. Congress is unlikely to approve statehood, since Democratic-leaning Puerto Rico would acquire two senators and several House members. The new state would also require increased federal spending at a time when Republicans in Congress seek spending cuts.