new york/san juan puerto rico governor monday say island vote favor become u.s. state despite low voter turnout widespread boycott fair open process u.s. congress act upon island-wide referendum sunday favor statehood 97 percent landslide though voter turnout reach 23 percent opponents governor ricardo rossello push become state boycott vote non-binding plebiscite expect sway u.s. congress would agree make puerto rico state currently u.s. territory island struggle 70 billion debt 45 percent poverty rate view priority washington rossello campaign push statehood say telephone interview reuters go u.s. capital week urge federal lawmakers begin process admit puerto rico union make sure become issue rossello say vote come critical time puerto rico whose hazy status date 1898 acquisition unite state spain contribute ongoing economic crisis last month island file big municipal bankruptcy u.s. history woes make statehood even urgent rossello say statehood bring stability allow us few rule-changes congress provide resources people say sunday referendum cost puerto rico million million accord government estimate island fifth since 1967 third pro-statehood sentiments triumph though none move congress act u.s. go go venezuela cuba afghanistan push democracy abroad get territories say puerto ricans skeptical island status change waste time say taxi driver felix salasarar 54 add federal lawmakers look voter turnout say people work governor may perception washington sunday vote fair u.s. department justice april call rossello change ballot language initially give voters option remain u.s. territory rossello tell reuters make decision territory option rossello equate colonialism already lose previous status referendum 2012 make year vote choice statehood independence justice department view language politically unfair millions puerto ricans favor territory status prompt rossello add territory option justice department never review approve new language sure sunday result reflect true nature puerto ricans view statehood fairly evenly divide favor base upon historical election result statehooder rossello example election 42 percent vote governor say democracy work everybody know go vote process loud voice say carolina santos single work mother struggle make mortgage payments say bankrupt puerto rico important things worry status vote maybe focus fix financial problems school say puerto rico governor vow statehood push referendum win