Election Officials Deny Extension for Puerto Rico Voter Registration \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Puerto Rican officials have rejected a petition to extend the voter registration deadline, despite long lines forming ahead of the general election. The two main political parties opposed the request, leaving residents with a September 21 deadline to register. Concerns have grown that many citizens may be unable to participate due to the registration backlog.
Voter Registration Deadline Rejection: Quick Looks
- Voter Registration Extension Denied: Puerto Rican officials turned down a petition to extend the registration deadline.
- Parties Block Request: The Popular Democratic Party and New Progressive Party voted against extending the deadline.
- Voter Concerns: Long lines and a backlog of electronic registrations have sparked public outcry over the short deadline.
- Legal Action Threatened: Advocacy groups are prepared to sue to force an extension if officials don’t act.
- ACLU Criticism: The American Civil Liberties Union highlighted infrastructure problems and called for more resources.
Puerto Rico Voter Registration Deep Look
Officials in Puerto Rico have rejected a plea to extend the voter registration deadline amid rising concerns about long lines and limited resources as the U.S. Caribbean territory approaches the November general election. The rejection came late Monday when Puerto Rico’s two main political parties—the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Progressive Party (PNP)—voted against the request to push the registration deadline beyond September 21. The alternate president of the elections commission also voted against the extension, leaving the current deadline in place.
Members of smaller parties, including the Puerto Rican Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement, had proposed extending the deadline to a month before the election, citing fears that many residents might be unable to register in time. John F. Rullán Schmidt, executive director of Somos Más, a volunteer group that promotes civic participation, expressed his concern, highlighting that long lines have already forced some citizens to wait until the early hours of the morning to register. Rullán warned that his group would file a lawsuit if no one else steps forward to challenge the decision.
In recent weeks, hundreds of Puerto Ricans have waited in long lines, often for hours, to register. Many of them are seeking to challenge the dominance of the island’s two major parties. Despite the difficulties, people like Vanessa Casillas, a 56-year-old speech therapist, are determined to vote. Arriving at the State Elections Commission with a chair and hat to shield herself from the sun, Casillas was among those advocating for significant political change, including the removal of Luma, a private company facing criticism for chronic power outages across the island.
Casillas planned to cast her vote for Juan Dalmau, the Puerto Rican Independence Party’s candidate for governor. He is running against Jesús Manuel Ortiz of the Popular Democratic Party, Javier Jiménez of the Dignity Project, and Jenniffer Colón of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party. Colón, who won her party’s primary against current Governor Pedro Pierluisi in June, faces growing criticism over energy policies. While Dalmau and Ortiz have voiced their support for ousting Luma, Colón has proposed appointing an energy czar to oversee the company rather than removing it altogether.
For 73-year-old Felicia Álvarez Capellán, resolving Puerto Rico’s energy crisis is a top priority. She is unable to afford backup power sources, like generators or solar panels, and is directly affected by the island’s frequent blackouts. Álvarez supports Colón and was taken aback by the large crowd she encountered at the elections commission. “There are too many people. There are no resources,” she said.
Part of the reason for these long lines, according to Rullán, is the closure of most of the island’s permanent registration boards. Only 12 of the previous 88 boards remain, and staffing levels at the State Elections Commission are critically low. Additionally, there is a significant backlog, with tens of thousands of voters who registered electronically still awaiting approval.
In response to the growing frustrations, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a statement on Monday, criticizing the elections commission for not allocating sufficient resources to meet the demand. The ACLU pointed out that chronic power outages, some caused by the same infrastructural issues linked to the controversy surrounding Luma, have forced temporary closures of registration centers. They also called for an extension to the registration deadline.
Karla Angleró, the electoral commissioner for the Popular Democratic Party, defended the decision to deny an extension, arguing that pushing back the deadline would disrupt the election’s preparation process. This includes delaying the printing of ballots, configuring voting lists, and processing over 90,000 early voting requests.
Despite the ongoing difficulties, voter registration figures are lagging behind previous years. By last week, only 62,400 new voters had registered, less than half the number recorded in 2020. This lower turnout has heightened concerns about voter disenfranchisement.
Among those frustrated by the registration process was 18-year-old university student Dylan Alvira, who arrived at the elections commission on Tuesday, only to leave due to long waits. “I’ll come back,” he promised after realizing he wouldn’t make it to class on time. His friend, Rafael Meléndez, a seasoned voter at 22, encouraged both Alvira and another friend to return and ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming election. “They have to come back,” Meléndez insisted, highlighting the urgency of participating in the democratic process during a pivotal time for Puerto Rico.
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