puerto rico: I"ve heard that Puerto Ricans that are born in Puerto Rico, are legally defined as US citizens. But I also heard that they aren't allowed to vote. Is this right?|||Correct. As a territory, they do not have voting representation in Congress. They do have the opportunity to vote in local issues, such as governor, etc. The same thing is true of all US possessions. From time to time PR votes on applying for statehood, but it is consistently turned down. The U.S. Government classifies Puerto Rico as an independent taxation authority by Federal Law 48 U.S.C. 搂 734. Puerto Rico residents are required to pay U.S. federal taxes, import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes etc. The only exemption is federal income taxes since residents pay federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), as well as Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes. All federal employees, plus those who do business with the federal government, in addition to Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S., and some others also pay federal income taxes.|||Yes they are US citizens, however the Constitution only allows a citizen who is a *legal resident* of one of the 50 states to vote in federal elections. They do have a non-voting representative in Congress, although Congress may allow them to vote in committees. This also applies to American Somoa, the American Virgin Islands and Guam. Keep in mind, citizens who are a legal resident in one of the 50 States can vote by absentee ballot.|||That's not true at all. They can vote, and have all the rights of citizens. They are pretty much a state, they just don't have any senators. Well, they can vote on most things anyways....|||They can vote for their governor and legislators, just not president.|||Yes, they can't vote in Federal elections(congress, president). If they move to the mainland then they can vote in them. Every 10 years or so they have a vote whether they want to become a state or not but they keep voting no(only narrowly)|||True, but they also do not pay income tax. What jitz said is also true.|||Yes (from Puerto Rico), because it has to pay federal taxes, and be declare a state, to be able to vote.|||They are considered American Citizens, but they cannot vote in Presidential Elections. They can however vote in the Primaries. They do not need a passport to come to the United States and you do not need a passport to go to Puerto Rico. The same is also true for Guam, the American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.|||It seems to me that that PR should decide on either statehood or independence. I don't like having American citizens who are effectively disenfranchised.