Why U.S. Territories Cannot Elect the Next President

U.S. territories, such as Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, do not have the right to elect the next President of the United States. Understanding the underlying reasons for this can shed light on why certain groups of U.S. citizens lack this right.

Who Can and Can't Vote

The ability to vote in the United States is contingent on two primary requirements: being an American citizen and not being incarcerated. While the incarceration aspect may seem straightforward, the citizenship requirement can be more complex and critical.

Contrary to popular belief, simply being an American citizen residing in a U.S. territory does not automatically entitle you to participate in presidential elections. This is because the territories, despite being U.S. soil, are classified as territories rather than states. Therefore, they do not possess the right to elect the President because they do not have senators or congressmen, and consequently, no electoral votes.

Current Voting Rights in Territories

Some residents of territories, such as Puerto Rico, have the ability to elect a governor. For example, in 2020, Pedro Pierluisi won 32.9% of the vote to become the Governor of Puerto Rico. Similarly, in 2018, Democrat Lou Leon Guerrero was elected as Governor of Guam with 50.7% of the vote.

However, this does not translate to the right to elect the President. The residents of territories do not have the right to elect the President because the U.S. Constitution grants this right exclusively to citizens of the states. Even Washington D.C., which lacks statehood, was granted special constitutional dispensation to receive electoral votes.

The Importance of Electoral Votes

Electoral votes are crucial in the U.S. presidential election process. Only the 538 electors chosen by state voters can cast ballots for the President. No resident from a territory, state, or territory can do so because their votes do not count towards the election of the President. This is due to the rigid structure imposed by the U.S. Constitution.

Key Reasons for the Absence of Voting Rights

There are several reasons why U.S. territories do not receive the same voting rights as states:

They are not states: Territories are not recognized in the same way as states under the U.S. Constitution. Tax Payments: While territories pay federal taxes, they do not pay the same amount as states. This means that territories contribute less to the federal government, which is why they lack the right to elect the President. Representation: Territories lack representation in the U.S. Congress, which leads to a lack of electoral votes. As such, residents have no say in who becomes the President. Resident Commissioner: While Puerto Rico has a Resident Commissioner who can speak support and introduce bills, they do not have the right to vote on them.

In essence, the right to vote for the President in the U.S. is contingent on being a state and, by extension, having the right to elect electors. Territories, although part of the United States, do not fit this criteria due to their status under the U.S. Constitution and the rigid electoral system.

Conclusion

The issue of voting rights in U.S. territories is deeply rooted in the constitutional framework of the United States. While Puerto Rico residents like Pedro Pierluisi and Lou Leon Guerrero can exercise their right to vote, they cannot elect the President of the United States. This is due to the lack of representation within the U.S. Congress and the lack of electoral votes.

To clarify, the right to vote is not diminished or enhanced by political stances; it is a constitutional mandate. The lack of voting rights in U.S. territories is a complex issue, influenced by historical and legal factors, but one that continues to be of interest to many Americans.

References:

U.S. Constitution: Article I, Section 2, Clause 1 U.S. Constitution: Article I, Section 5, Clause 1 U.S. Constitution: 23rd Amendment