A referendum on holding a constitutional convention was held in the

US Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands,. Also called the ''American Virgin Islands'' and the ''U.S. Virgin Islands''. officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory ...

on 3 November 2020 alongside

general elections A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

. 72% of voters responding to the referendum question voted in favor and turnout was above the threshold required.

Background

The islands' first constitutional convention was held from 1964 to 1965 after members were elected in 1964. Although the convention approved a draft constitution in February 1965, it was not adopted by the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

,House Hearing, 111 Congress
U.S. Government Publishing Office although some elements became law.V.I. constitutional conventions: Background
St Thomas Source, 19 May 2003 A second convention was held in 1971–1972, and although the draft constitution was approved by a majority of voters in a 1972 referendum, VI delegate

Ron de Lugo Ronald de Lugo (August 2, 1930 – July 14, 2020) was an American politician. He was the first Delegate (United States Congress), Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. Ron de Lugo's parents ...

believed the low turnout meant the constitution did not have sufficient mandate from the people and did not take it to Congress. The third constitution convention was held between 1977 and 1978, but this time voters rejected the draft document in a 1979 referendum. A fourth convention was held in 1980, with the draft again rejected by voters in a 1981 referendum. The fifth convention was held in 2009, but failed to agree on a draft by 2012 and was dissolved. On 7 May 2020 the

Legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...

passed law 8308, which proposed a referendum on electing a constitutional convention. Governor Albert Bryan signed the law the following day. In order for the convention to be called, at least 50% of voters participating in the general election had to answer the referendum question, and a majority of those answering it had to vote in favor.

Results

A total of 18,130 voters participated in the general election, of which 10,115 (56%) answered the referendum question. With a majority of those voting also voting in favor, the proposal was approved.

References

{{US Virgin Islands elections United States Virgin 2020 in the United States Virgin Islands Referendums in the United States Virgin Islands Election and referendum articles with incomplete results