Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands status referendum, 1975

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.^[1] 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%.^[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. Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p639 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
2. Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p693 ISBN 0-19-924959-8