Puerto Rico will vote on November 6, 2012, on what its future political status should be. The first question will ask the voters if they are satisfied with the status quo. The second question will ask voters to either support or oppose three alternatives: (1) statehood; (2) independence; (3) free association with the United States as an independent country. The third alternative is somewhat like the relationship between the United States and three former possessions, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. Although those three countries are independent, they have a special relationship with the United States. The U.S. handles their postal system, and post offices in each of them have U.S. zip codes. Also, their citizens may freely travel between the United States and their home countries. See this article for more details.

The previous votes in Puerto Rico were in 1967, 1993, and 1998. In each of these elections, the status quo always won, although there was always a strong minority in favor of statehood.

A few weeks ago, Mitt Romney said in a Republican presidential debate that he is opposed to letting ex-felons vote, if they had been convicted of a “violent” crime. Now, Ohio Attorney General Michael DeWine, who was once a U.S. Senator, has withdrawn his endorsement of Romney and is instead endorsing Rick Santorum, specifically over Romney’s position on voting rights for ex-felons. See this story. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

As noted previously, five candidates had filed to appear on the Indiana Republican presidential primary, including an unknown, Patricia Sandifer. Indiana law lets anyone on the ballot, no matter if they only file one signature, if no one challenges their petition. On February 16, someone challenged Sandifer’s petition, which only has one signature on it, so she is now off the ballot. See this story.

The only remaining uncertainty is whether Rick Santorum will be on that ballot. That will be decided on February 24, when the challenge to the Santorum petition is adjudicated by the Indiana Election Commission. The only candidates whose ballot status is confirmed now are Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney. Write-ins are not allowed in Indiana primaries, even though Indiana permits write-ins at the general election.