A two-part referendum was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 4 November 2014. Voters were asked whether they 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]
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| Are you in favor of the United States Congress amending Section 6(1) of the revised Organic Act of 1954 to increase the term of office of local Senators from two years to four years? | ||
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| Should the Legislature of the Virgin Islands consider legislation to allow for the cultivation and use of cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) for medical and research purposes? | ||
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
editThe 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
editIncreasing Senators' term length
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b c Legislature puts issue of doubling length of senators' terms to voters Archived 2014-12-10 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 2014-12-10 at the Wayback Machine Virgin Islands Daily News, 15 August 2014
- ^ Official results Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine VI Vote
- ^ Medical marijuana referendum clears Senate Archived 2014-10-21 at archive.today Virgin Islands Daily News, 29 July 2014