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1970 United States Virgin Islands voting age referendum

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A referendum on the voting age was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 3 November 1970.[1] After the Legislature of the Islands requested a referendum take place, it was approved by the United States Congress on 6 October 1970.[1] Voters were given the options of 18, 19, 20 or 21, and the winning option had to receive an absolute majority of the vote.[1] Although the results saw 55.67% vote in favor of setting the voting age at 18,[1] when the blank votes were included, this dropped to 46.71%. A lawsuit was subsequently filed on 1 December 1970, and on 21 January 1971 a court decided that the blank ballots should be discarded, giving the 18 option an absolute majority of votes.[1]

Prior to the Elective Governor Acts of 1968, the governor of the US Virgin Islands was appointed. Melvin H. Evans was the first governor elected under the new system.

Results

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Choice Votes %
Age 18 7,469 55.67
Age 19 726 5.41
Age 20 2,063 15.38
Age 21 3,158 23.54
Blank votes 2,575
Invalid votes 131
Total 16,122 100
Registered voters/turnout 19'756 81.61
Source: Direct Democracy

References

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