Is Puerto Rico a State?

Puerto Rico is not a state, but a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. It has been a US territory since 1898. Puerto Rico has its own government, but has no representation in the Electoral College, nor have voting representation in Congress. Although, they do vote for a representative called the Resident Commissioner.

Puerto Ricans cannot vote in general presidential elections unless they establish residency in one of the 50 states.

Puerto Ricans have voted six times between 1967 and 2020 on what they want the status of Puerto Rico to be: a U.S. state, an independent nation, or a territory. In 2020 the majority of voters chose to become a state, the results have not compelled the U.S. Congress to act on the issue of Puerto Rico's political status.