1993 United States Virgin Islands status referendum

Referendum in the U.S. Virgin Islands October 11, 1993 United States Virgin Islands 80px Continued or Enhanced Territorial Status Complete Integration with the United States Removal of United States Sovereignty 8629 1421 525 157 39046 A status referendum was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 11 October 1993. The option to maintain the status quo as a territory won, but the referendum was not legally valid as a majority of registered voters did not participate. Background The United States purchased the Danish West Indies in 1917, and it became the insular area of the United States Virgin Islands.United States Government Accountability Office 1997 7-8 The United States Congress gave the territory the right to elect its own governor in 1968, and to elect a non-voting delegate in 1972.Steif 1993 A United Nations fact-finding mission reported that the U.S. Virgin Islands were not a self-governing territory and called for a referendum on its political status. Governor Alexander Farrelly and the Legislature of the Virgin Islands created a 17-member Status CommissionSteif 1993 in July 1988.Sekou 1994 1; 7 A referendum was planned to be held in 1989, but was delayed due to Hurricane Hugo. The commission called for a referendum on the territory's future political status in 1993.Steif 1993 Campaign The initial vote was scheduled for September 7, 1993,Steif 1993 but was moved to September 4Virgin Islanders to vote Sept. 4 on status choice 1993 and then October 11.Virgin Islands voters show their apathy 1993 The three options for the referendum were continued or enhanced territorial status, complete integration with the United States, or ending United States sovereignty.United States Virgin Islands: Working paper prepared by the Secretariat 1996 3 Ending American sovereignty would result in either the U.S. Virgin Islands becoming independent or an associated state.United States Government Accountability Office 1997 19Steif 1993 If none of the options received a majority then a runoff between the two most supported options would be held.Steif 1993 A majority of registered voters were required to participate for the referendum to be legally valid.Virgin Islands voters show their apathy 1993 Only 27.5% of voters participated.United States Government Accountability Office 1997 19 Angel Suarez Jr., a member of the Status Commission, stated that voters were more concerned about the economy and crime than the political status of the territory.Virgin Islands voters show their apathy 1993 Endorsements Status quo 60em Territory officials Alexander Farrelly, 4th Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (1987–1995)Virgin Islanders to vote Sept. 4 on status choice 1993 Delegates Ron de Lugo, delegate to the United States House of Representatives from United States Virgin Islands' at-large congressional district (1973–1979, 1981–1995)Virgin Islanders to vote Sept. 4 on status choice 1993 Results United States territory 8629 Integration with the U.S. 1421 Independence 525 157 39046 United States Virgin Islands: Working paper prepared by the Secretariat 1996 3 References Works cited 30em News August 5, 1993 Virgin Islanders to vote Sept. 4 on status choice 24A Miami Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/198528692/ Newspapers.com Virgin Islanders to vote Sept. 4 on status choice 1993 October 12, 1993 Virgin Islands voters show their apathy A6 Green Bay Press-Gazette https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/198529192/ Newspapers.com Virgin Islands voters show their apathy 1993 Steif William January 11, 1993 Virgin Islanders face referendum 14A Miami Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/198527617/ Newspapers.com Web June 19, 1996 United States Virgin Islands: Working paper prepared by the Secretariat United Nations Digital Library https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/215749 live https://web.archive.org/web/20260529194343/https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/215749 May 29, 2026 United States Virgin Islands: Working paper prepared by the Secretariat 1996 1997 U.S. Insular Areas Application of the U.S. Constitution United States Government Accountability Office https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200229153648/https://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/og98005.pdf February 29, 2020 United States Government Accountability Office 1997 Sekou Malik Malik Sekou 1994 The Failures of the Political Status Process in the U.S. Virgin Islands University of Florida https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/ca/00/40/01/86/00001/pdf.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20251103202453/https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/ca/00/40/01/86/00001/pdf.pdf November 3, 2025 Category:Referendums in the United States Virgin Islands Status United States Virgin Islands United States Virgin Islands