The Puerto Rico Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (the Commission) announces the publication of its third memorandum as part of its study on the effects of the Insular Cases and the Non-Incorporation Doctrine on the civil rights of the residents of Puerto Rico.
With a focus on voting rights, the Committee shares a historical overview and highlights several findings and recommendations identified in the testimony it has received from experts on the subject. Among the findings identified in the testimony by the Committee, it analyzes how the island’s territorial status is a limitation when it comes to voting rights as well as strategies that can be taken at the federal level to prioritize Puerto Rico. The Committee also highlights testimony on its jurisdiction over local elections, the debate on various visions of American citizenship and cultural identity, and opinions on Puerto Rico having a political right to self-determination. Preliminary recommendations for this stage of the project are also addressed by the Committee.