A Tale of Two Elections: The Diaspora’s Double Dose of Stress

Navigating the madness of election season as a Puerto Rican in the diaspora—two ballots, double the stress, and an extra shot of existential dread.

Election season. For most people, it’s a time to choose the lesser of two evils, scroll past political ads, and maybe (if they’re lucky) get a day off work. But for Puerto Ricans in the diaspora? Oh, we get double the anxiety! It’s like life handed us an extra homework assignment with a wink and a “good luck.” Not that we asked for it.

See, while everyone in the U.S. is stressing about who’s going to sit in the Oval Office next, we’re over here juggling TWO elections. Yup, two. One in la isla, where we have to figure out which local politician might actually care about fixing the roads (and maybe keeping the lights on), and one in the U.S., where our vote is supposed to count—but you know, kinda feels like a participation trophy.

My U.S. friends look at me like I’m crazy when I say I’m stressing about two elections. “Wait, you actually care about the Puerto Rican elections too?” they ask, genuinely baffled. Yes, Karen, I do. Because even though I live here, I’m directly affected by what happens back home. News flash: it’s not like my family magically becomes unaffected by power outages or political mess-ups just because I crossed an ocean.

Here’s the kicker though. No matter how much I worry, rally, or complain on Twitter, the Puerto Rican government still won’t have my back in Chicago, and the U.S. government won’t really “get it” when it comes to the island’s struggles. It’s like playing a game where the rules keep changing, and you don’t even know if you’re a player or just an extra.

But hey, at least I get two chances to make a difference, right? Or maybe just two chances to scream into the void. Either way, I’m in it, fully caffeinated and ready for this wild, double-decker ride.

Reflection: How do you handle life when you’re forced to juggle loyalties between two places that define who you are?

Besiss 😘

Génesis 💚💛