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. 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.
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 Commission in July 1988. 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.
Campaign The initial vote was scheduled for September 7, 1993, but was moved to September 4 and then October 11. The three options for the referendum were continued or enhanced territorial status, complete integration with the United States, or ending United States sovereignty. Ending American sovereignty would result in either the U.S. Virgin Islands becoming independent or an associated state. If none of the options received a majority then a runoff between the two most supported options would be held.
A majority of registered voters were required to participate for the referendum to be legally valid. Only 27.5% of voters participated. 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.
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