Puerto Ricans will head to the polls Sunday to determine whether they want to convert their U.S. territory into a state. Even if they vote for statehood, Congress seems unlikely to add a 51st star to the U.S. flag anytime soon.
The referendum fulfills a campaign promise made by Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, who believes the financial benefit of full statehood would help solve the island’s economic woes. The island is drowning under $74 billion in debts and $49 billion in pension liabilities, which forced Congress to create an oversight board that filed a form of bankruptcy protection for Puerto Rico in May.
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