Puerto Rico is not voting in US presidential elections but has Trump and Harris on ballot. Here's why

The island of Puerto Rico does not vote in the US presidential elections which means that its three million residents do not have any say in who will be the country's next president even though they are American citizens.

However, the election remains consequential on the island as the voters will be electing a new governor.

However, they still have Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on their ballots and they are free to give them a symbolic vote.

The presidential campaign had led to fury among the Puerto Ricans after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe had called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" at Trump's rally at the Madison Square Garden.

Puerto Rico to electnew governor

Puerto Rico is voting for a new governor and if Jenniffer Gonzálezof the pro-statehood New Progressive Party clinches victory, it will be the first time in the history of the island that the party will get three consecutive terms.

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Puerto Rico’s Independence Party and Citizen Victory Movement candidate Juan Dalmau's victory will mark the first win of a candidate who is not representing any of the two major parties that have dominated the politics of the island.

Competing with González and Dalmau in the elections is Popular Democratic Party's Jesús Manuel Ortiz who supports the territorial status of the island. Conservative party Project Dignity's Javier Jiménez is also running in the elections.

In Puerto Rico, almost two million voters are eligible to participate in the November 5 elections.

(With inputs from agencies)