Global reggaeton star Bad Bunny recently opened up about his feelings in a rare interview, pleading with voters in Puerto Rico not to downplay the upcoming election’s importance. The emotional moment, in which he visibly struggled to contain tears, has sparked a wave of voter empowerment and registration efforts among disenfranchised and young voters on the island.
Bad Bunny’s plea comes amid a backdrop of declining voter turnout and a growing distrust in local government institutions in Puerto Rico. The island has been grappling with economic turmoil, natural disasters, and power outages, leading to a mass exodus of working-age Puerto Ricans to the U.S. mainland.
Traditionally, the local electorate has been divided between pro-statehood and pro-territorial status parties, but a surge of independent candidates and new political parties has emerged in recent years. Younger voters, who have experienced Puerto Rico’s crises firsthand, are more open to supporting these new candidates as a way to bring about change.
The call to action from Bad Bunny and other civic engagement organizations is aimed at mobilizing voters ahead of the election and encouraging them to take control of the future of Puerto Rico. Despite the challenges facing the island, there is a sense of hope and a belief that change is possible through active participation in the democratic process.
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