1952 Puerto Rican constitutional referendum
3 March 1952
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 420,036 87.78%
No 58,484 12.22%
Valid votes 478,520 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 478,520 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 883,219 54.18%

A referendum on a new constitution was held in Puerto Rico on 3 March 1952.[1] It was approved by 81.9% of voters.[2] This was considered by many U.S. and Puerto Rican politicians an affirmation of the new constitution of the island as an Estado Libre Associado, or Commonwealth, as proposed by legislation in 1950 by the United States Congress after negotiation with its political leaders. Puerto Rican nationalists question the meaning of the referendum, complaining that the only alternative offered was direct U.S. rule, and no choice of independence was offered. In 1980, the Supreme Court of the United States adjudicated (Harris v. Rosario) that as a result of this referendum of 1952, the actual territorial status was not changed at all.

On November 1, 1950 two Puerto Rican Nationalists had attempted assassination of the United States President Harry S. Truman. They claimed they were retaliating for U.S. cooperation in repressing the 1950 nationalist revolts on the island. Truman's stated motive for supporting the plebiscite was that residents of the island could express their opinion of preferred status, but since independence was not offered, nationalists question Truman's stated motive. An overwhelming majority approved the commonwealth over the alternative of return to direct U.S. rule.[3]

Results

Choice Votes %
For374,64981.9
Against82,92318.1
Invalid/blank votes–
Total457,572100
Registered voters/turnout457,572
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. ↑ Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p552 ISBN 9780199283576
  2. ↑ Nohlen (2005), Elections in the Americas, p556
  3. ↑ Hunter, Stephen; Bainbridge, Jr., John (2005). American Gunfight: The Plot To Kill Harry Truman – And The Shoot-Out That Stopped It. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 4, 251. ISBN 978-0-7432-6068-8.
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