I’m an American who wants Puerto Rico to become America’s 51st state—and I want the entire country to be able to say “yes” at the ballot box. A national, good-faith, vote would not change the mechanics of admission; it would change the mood. It would turn a very important procedural step into a shared act of welcome—millions of Americans from all 50 states affirming to 3.2 million residents of Puerto Rico that they belong in full.
Across the map, commentators are already making that case. Georgia GOP chair Josh McKoon put it bluntly: “Unlike Canadians, Puerto Ricans actually want to become a state.” Jacksonville Journal-Courier
From Florida, Erika Benfield argues that supporting statehood is “not just fair—it’s now in the interest of Republican voters,” urging both parties to back it. Arizona’s Jaime Molera tells fellow conservatives, “In the recent election, Puerto Ricans made it explicitly clear that they are ready to vote for Republicans, and they are ready for statehood.” The Floridianazcapitoltimes.com
New York voices are in the mix, too. Writing in City Limits, veteran Tony Mele reminded readers that “in the past eight years, Puerto Rico residents have repeatedly voted against continuing under the current territory status.” City Limits
These writers aren’t debating legal fine print; they’re talking about dignity, clarity, and momentum. A national vote would spotlight facts, sweep aside myths (“they don’t pay taxes”) and let communities take down barriers and openly talk about culture and language. Most of all, it would give residents of Puerto Rico something priceless: proof that their fellow Americans chose them on purpose, not by default.
Critics like the Albuquerque Journal want Congress to slow down until every doubt is settled—the paper even warned that Senator Heinrich’s Puerto Rico statehood bill “could cost New Mexico one of its three U.S. House seats.” Heinrich’s Puerto Rican statehood bill could cost NM 1 of its 3 US House seats I want America to speed up how we settle those doubts: in public, together, with a Welcome Vote that replaces rumor with record and hesitation with a handshake.
So let’s pair congressional action with a public gesture on purpose. Call it a National Welcome Vote. Wrap it in a year of town halls, classroom lessons, service projects, and televised forums linking mainland communities with Puerto Rico. Then—ballot cast, message sent—move straight into the work of integration: tax alignment, full program parity, education systems that serve all Americans, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory harmony. No more years of “should we have done this?”—just “let’s do this right.”
We say democracy is not a spectator sport. Let’s stop treating Puerto Rico’s future like a closed-door event. Congress can admit Puerto Rico. The rest of us can stand and cheer—in the clearest civic voice we have: a vote cast in hope. Let’s add a star—and let America say so.
Javier Ortiz has over 37 years of experience in technology, business, and the public sector, leads investment technical due diligence and innovation at Falcon Cyber Investments. www.falconcyber.com
On Jan. 6, 2021, a political rally turned into an insurrection as 
Michelle Witthoeft, Ashli Babbitt’s mother, participates in a demonstration in support of insurrectionists who were arrested and charged following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)