United States Virgin Islands referendum, 2014

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A two-part referendum was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 4 November 2014. Voters were asked whether the approve of extending the term of office of Senators from two to four years,^[1] and whether the cultivation and use of cannabis for medical and research purposes should be allowed.^[2]

The proposal to increase senatorial terms was rejected by 82% of voters, while the medical cannabis proposal was approved.by 57% of voters.^[3]

Background

The proposal to hold a referendum on increasing the term length of Senators was approved by the Legislature on 27 September 2014 by a vote of 7–6 with one abstention.^[1] The proposal would only be implemented if a majority of those voting in the simultaneous general elections.^[1]

In 2012 Senator Terrance Nelson proposed holding referendums on the use of medical cannabis and allowing the production, processing, manufacturing and distributing of industrial hemp. Although the holding of a referendum on medical cannabis referendum was blocked by the Legislature, it did allow a referendum on industrial hemp, which was approved by 57% of voters. Nelson again proposed holding a referendum on medical cannabis in 2014, and this time it was approved by a vote of 12–2. Unlike the term length question, the cannabis one was non-binding.^[4]

Results

Increasing Senators' term length

Choice	Votes	%
For	3,192	17.60
Against	14,946	82.40
Invalid/blank votes	9,741	–
Total	27,879	100
Registered voters/turnout	51,326	54.32
Source: VI Vote

Medical cannabis

Main article: Cannabis in United States Virgin Islands

Choice	Votes	%
For	10,503	56.54
Against	8,074	43.46
Invalid/blank votes	9,302	–
Total	27,879	100
Registered voters/turnout	51,326	54.32
Source: VI Vote

References

1 2 3 Legislature puts issue of doubling length of senators' terms to voters Virgin Islands Daily News, 27 September 2013
↑ DeJongh vetoes bill ending pension payments to spouses of deceased governors, calling it an attack on him, his wife Virgin Islands Daily News, 15 August 2014
↑ Official results VI Vote
↑ Medical marijuana referendum clears Senate Virgin Islands Daily News, 29 July 2014

Elections in the United States Virgin Islands

Gubernatorial elections	1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014

Legislative elections	1964 1968 1970 1971 1972 1974 1976 1977 1978 1980 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

US House elections	2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Referendums	1868 1916 1933 1948 1953 1970 1972 1978 1979 1981 1992 1993 1994 2000 2012 2014

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