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1975 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands status referendum

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A referendum on the future status of the islands was held in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on 8 July 1975. Voters were offered six options:

  1. Independence
  2. Commonwealth
  3. Free Association
  4. Statehood
  5. To retain the current status
  6. Another status

In Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap (later to become the Federated States of Micronesia) option one (independence) received the highest number of votes in favour (59.1%), whilst Free Association (58.0%) and the present status (59.0%) also received majorities in favour. Voter turnout was 52.6%. In the Marshall Islands option five was the only option to be approved, with 77% voting in favour, although voter turnout was only 35.2%. In Palau only options three (68% in favour) and five (78% in favour) were approved.

Results

Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap

Choice For Against Invalid/
blank votes 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Independence 6,912 59.1 4,778 40.9 5,849 17,539 33,329 52.6
Commonwealth 714 9.2 7,015 90.8 9,810 17,539 33,329 52.6
Free Association 5,759 58.0 4,164 42.0 7,616 17,539 33,329 52.6
Statehood 545 6.5 7,807 93.5 9,187 17,539 33,329 52.6
Current status 6,543 59.0 4,549 41.0 6,447 17,539 33,329 52.6
Another status 42 1.6 2,546 98.4 14,951 17,539 33,329 52.6
Source: Nohlen et al.

Marshall Islands

Choice For Against Invalid/
blank votes 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Independence 119 5.2 2,175 94.8 943 3,237 9,203 35.2
Commonwealth 409 15.1 2,300 84.9 528 3,237 9,203 35.2
Free Association 826 30.0 1,926 70.0 485 3,237 9,203 35.2
Statehood 199 8.0 2,302 92.0 736 3,237 9,203 35.2
Current status 2,317 77.1 687 22.9 233 3,237 9,203 35.2
Another status 129 6.0 2,011 94.0 1,097 3,237 9,203 35.2
Source: Nohlen et al.

Palau

Choice For Against Invalid/
blank votes 		Total Registered
voters 		Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Independence 455 34.37 869 65.63 1,162 2,486 5,888 42.22
Commonwealth 171 15.89 905 84.11 1,410 2,486 5,888 42.22
Free Association 1,120 68.04 526 31.96 840 2,486 5,888 42.22
Statehood 183 17.22 880 82.78 1,423 2,486 5,888 42.22
Current status 1,288 77.68 370 22.32 1,658 2,486 5,888 42.22
Another status 38 4.80 754 95.20 1,694 2,486 5,888 42.22
Source: Direct Democracy

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p639 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. Nohlen et al., p693
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Elections and referendums in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Parliamentary elections
Constitutional Convention elections
Referendums
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