NORTH CAROLINA — People in Puerto Rico voted in favor of statehood; however, this did not mean Puerto Rico would become the 51st state.

According to John Dinan, a professor of politics with Wake Forest University, becoming a state is a complicated process.

"The process as it's set up is Congress, by statutory law, would admit Puerto Rico to become the 51st state. That would take a majority vote in the House and the Senate and be signed off by the President," Dinan said. 

Yvette Gaboury, the proud daughter of two Puerto Ricans, says this vote was all about sending a message.

"That just says 'this is what our island wants.' That's then sent to Washington because the island can't make this decision. We have to make the decision here and by 'we' I mean our legislators," Gaboury said.

Those living in Puerto Rico are United States citizens and can vote in primary elections, but not the general elections for president. The island has representatives in Washington, but those representatives cannot vote on legislation. 

Dinan said giving the island statehood is a political issue.

"Those questions of whether or not it becomes a state are inevitably tied up with partisan considerations of which party would benefit from having Puerto Rico with two senators, having a voting member of the House of Representatives, and having three electoral college votes," he said.

Gaboury said the recent election results gave her hope.

"I really am optimistic that we will at least have a conversation. We may not have a seat at the table yet, but we have supporters, and a lot of advocates," she said.