If Porto Rico can not vote for president, why do they hold Primaries there?
The two national political parties are free to use whatever process they see fit to choose presidential candidates. Besides the 50 states and the District of Columbia (all of which have electoral votes), both parties have nomination contests in the following U.S. Territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Republicans also have a contest in the Northern Marianas. The Democrats have a contest for “Democrats Abroad.” (The Republicans used to but the Republican Abroad group has had some problems with the RNC and is no longer recognized.) The main reason for having nomination contests in the territories is that both parties want to claim that their nominee represents all Americans and Congress and the President do have authority over the territories so allowing them to participate gives at least some form of representation to go along with the potential for taxation.
Puerto Ricans can vote in the GE as long as they have their residency in one of the states. Here’s what the federal explains: No, the Electoral College system does not provide for residents of U.S. Territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa to vote for President. Unless citizens in U.S. Territories have official residency (domicile) in a U.S. State or the District of Columbia (and vote by absentee ballot or travel to their State to vote), they cannot vote in the Presidential election. Note that prior to the adoption of the 23rd Amendment, DC residents could not vote in the Presidential election. The political parties may authorize voters in primary elections in Territories to select delegates to represent them at the political party conventions. But that process does not affect the Electoral College system. From: http://www.archives.gov/federa
