IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

3,654,978	23
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019)	Elections in our database
1,987,317	67.86%
Registered Voters (as of None)	Average Turnout

Name	Official Name	Type
Puerto Rican Governor		Head of Government
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	Cámara de Representantes	Lower House
Puerto Rican Senate	Senado	Upper House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Donald TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Head of Government: Governor Alejandro Javier GARCIA PADILLA
Assembly: Puerto Rico has a bicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 27 seats and the House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) with 51 seats.

* Residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in the elections for President of the United States.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.
Governor is elected by plurality vote to serve a 4-year term.
In the Senate (Senado), 16 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms and 11 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms*. In the House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes), 11 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms and 40 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.**

* 16 members of the Senate are elected by plurality in 8 two-seat constituencies, and 11 members are elected at large. If the minority party elects fewer than 9 Senators, Puerto Rico’s Constitution provides for the enlargement of the body though “add-on” Senators.

** 40 members are elected in single-seat constituencies with a first past the post system and 11 members are elected at large. If the minority party elects fewer than 9 Representatives, Puerto Rico’s constitution provides for the enlargement of the body through the addition of “add-on” Representatives.

Elections

2024-11-05
Referendum
Votes 1,256,572
Registered -
Turnout -

2024-11-05
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes 1,283,402
Registered -
Turnout -

2024-11-05
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes 1,282,935
Registered 1,987,317
Turnout 64.56

2024-11-05
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 1,282,935
Registered 1,987,317
Turnout 64.56

2020-11-03
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes 1,296,379
Registered 2,355,894
Turnout 55.03

2020-11-03
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 1,298,569
Registered 2,355,894
Turnout 55.12

2020-11-03
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes 1,298,569
Registered 2,355,894
Turnout 55.12

2016-11-08
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 1,578,164
Registered 2,867,557
Turnout 55.04

2016-11-08
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes 1,579,624
Registered 2,867,557
Turnout 55.09

2016-11-08
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes 1,578,164
Registered 2,867,557
Turnout 55.04

2012-11-06
Referendum
Votes 1,843,552
Registered 2,382,738
Turnout 77.37

2012-11-06
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2012-11-06
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes 1,843,552
Registered 2,382,738
Turnout 77.37

2012-11-06
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 1,843,552
Registered 2,382,738
Turnout 77.37

2008-11-04
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 1,942,973
Registered 2,458,036
Turnout 79.05

2008-11-04
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes -
Registered 2,458,036
Turnout -

2008-11-04
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2004-11-04
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2004-11-03
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2004-11-02
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2000-11-07
Puerto Rican House of Representatives
Votes 2,015,987
Registered 2,447,032
Turnout 82.38

2000-11-07
Puerto Rican Senate
Votes 2,015,987
Registered 2,447,032
Turnout 82.38

2000-11-07
Puerto Rican Governor
Votes 2,015,987
Registered 2,447,032
Turnout 82.38

Election For	Date	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Referendum	2024-11-05	1,256,572	-	-
Puerto Rican Governor	2024-11-05	1,283,402	-	-
Puerto Rican Senate	2024-11-05	1,282,935	1,987,317	64.56
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2024-11-05	1,282,935	1,987,317	64.56
Puerto Rican Governor	2020-11-03	1,296,379	2,355,894	55.03
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2020-11-03	1,298,569	2,355,894	55.12
Puerto Rican Senate	2020-11-03	1,298,569	2,355,894	55.12
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2016-11-08	1,578,164	2,867,557	55.04
Puerto Rican Governor	2016-11-08	1,579,624	2,867,557	55.09
Puerto Rican Senate	2016-11-08	1,578,164	2,867,557	55.04
Referendum	2012-11-06	1,843,552	2,382,738	77.37
Puerto Rican Governor	2012-11-06	-	-	-
Puerto Rican Senate	2012-11-06	1,843,552	2,382,738	77.37
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2012-11-06	1,843,552	2,382,738	77.37
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2008-11-04	1,942,973	2,458,036	79.05
Puerto Rican Senate	2008-11-04	-	2,458,036	-
Puerto Rican Governor	2008-11-04	-	-	-
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2004-11-04	-	-	-
Puerto Rican Senate	2004-11-03	-	-	-
Puerto Rican Governor	2004-11-02	-	-	-
Puerto Rican House of Representatives	2000-11-07	2,015,987	2,447,032	82.38
Puerto Rican Senate	2000-11-07	2,015,987	2,447,032	82.38
Puerto Rican Governor	2000-11-07	2,015,987	2,447,032	82.38

Voter Turnout

Hover to view election details.