politics

What Puerto Rico Can Expect If Electoral Fraud Occurs in 2024

People inside Puerto Rico’s main State Election Commission office on September 21, 2024
Photo by Carlos Berríos Polanco/The Latino Newsletter

Originally published in The Latino Newsletter–reprinted with permission.

Opinion for The Latino Newsletter.

As Puerto Rico approaches its 2024 election, the political landscape is marked by a fierce contest between the ruling pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP) and the growing coalition of pro-sovereignty and progressive forces, primarily represented by the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) and the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC). With the island’s colonial status becoming an increasingly central issue, many anticipate a potential shift in political power.

Puerto Ricans are tired of the same PNP and Popular Democratic Party (PPD) duopoly.

They want change.

However, as Puerto Rico approaches the 2024 election cycle, concerns over potential electoral fraud have surfaced, particularly regarding the practices of the pro-statehood PNP, which has been accused of manipulating the electoral process by controlling the State Electoral Commission (CEE) and unilaterally amending the Electoral Code.

The Threat of Electoral Fraud

Among the most alarming tactics is the continued use of thousands of deceased voters. A recent investigation by the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) uncovered that nearly 900,000 deceased individuals remain on the voter registry, with some voting in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

One particularly shocking example involved a voter who, according to records, would be 174 years old yet participated in the 2020 election. Despite public outrage and the CPI's findings, accountability remains scarce.

Beyond using deceased voters, the PNP has employed various strategies to consolidate power. These include exploiting elderly voters by soliciting early voting ballots without their knowledge, trafficking personal voter information, negotiating with prison gangs for votes, and closing voter registration stations in opposition-leaning areas.

Additional concerns involve the physical manipulation of ballots, fraudulent absentee ballots, and limiting youth voter registration efforts. The PNP’s influence and control over public employees has also enabled them, via the “destaque” practice, to use government employees and resources for partisan gains.

Even when these practices are exposed, the party can reportedly rely on PNP-affiliated judges to dismiss investigations or halt any legal action that may affect them. This combination of tactics has led many Puerto Ricans to view the PNP as an organization that undermines and subverts Puerto Rico's limited colonial “democracy.”

With this array of tactics, the PNP appears poised to exploit its control over the political, police, and electoral systems to manipulate the election results.

On September 25, 2024, a letter from members of Congress, led by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to audit and observe the upcoming Puerto Rican election due to numerous allegations of electoral fraud, mismanagement, and voter disenfranchisement.

The letter highlights concerns stemming from the controversial 2020 Electoral Code, which unilaterally centralized control of the CEE under the ruling PNP, leading to claims of cronyism, corruption, and compromised voter participation. Specifically, the 2020 election saw widespread irregularities, such as unaccounted ballots and poorly trained staff.

The members of Congress argue that similar issues are already affecting the upcoming 2024 election and call for federal intervention to ensure compliance with voting rights laws and proper use of federal funds, emphasizing the need to protect the fundamental right to vote in Puerto Rico.

What Would Happen If Fraud Occurs?

If the 2024 election is tainted by fraud, Puerto Rico could witness unprecedented political unrest. The PNP’s grip on the judiciary could make legal challenges difficult, if not impossible, leaving many Puerto Ricans feeling powerless. But as history has shown, the Puerto Rican people are not easily silenced.

Here are five things that can be done:

  1. Mass Mobilization and Peaceful Protests: Peaceful mass protests are crucial. In 2019, Puerto Ricans united to oust Governor Ricardo Rosselló, demonstrating the power of collective action. Similarly, protests across the archipelago and among the diaspora can put immense pressure on the next PNP government, demanding transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
  2. International Appeals: Puerto Rico can appeal to the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and human rights organizations to investigate the elections. If fraud is proven, these institutions can apply diplomatic pressure on the U.S. government, whose responsibility it is to ensure the democratic rights of Puerto Ricans. This international spotlight can also create momentum for fair elections.
  3. Strategic Civil Resistance: Civil resistance, including strikes, sit-ins, and boycotts, could disrupt the functioning of the next PNP government. By making it difficult for a government to operate, the people can force a re-evaluation of the election results or push for new and supervised elections free from PNP control and influence.
  4. Legal Action: Despite the PNP’s control over the judiciary, legal challenges can be pursued. Documenting every instance of fraud and bringing the case to local, federal, and international courts could generate enough pressure to challenge the election results. Even if PNP-friendly judges dismiss cases in Puerto Rico, appeals to U.S. courts could succeed.
  5. Building a United Front: Unity is the key. Pro-sovereignty movements, opposition parties, civil society organizations, and everyday Puerto Ricans must work together. By focusing on the shared goal of defending democracy, the people can overcome the partisan divide and create a powerful movement.

The possibility of electoral fraud in the 2024 election is very real and is a direct threat to Puerto Rico. The PNP is determined to maintain power at all costs. But Puerto Rico’s history is filled with examples of its people rising up against corruption, colonialism, and oppression.

The future of Puerto Rico is at stake. The people must defend their right to free and fair elections. If the PNP acts with impunity, it is up to the Puerto Rican people to prove them wrong.

Democracy is not just a right—it is a responsibility. And it is time for Puerto Ricans to take that responsibility into their own hands.

The Latino Newsletter welcomes opinion pieces in English and/or Spanish from community voices. You can email them to our publisher, Julio Ricardo Varela. The views expressed by outside opinion contributors do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this outlet.

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This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

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hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

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