2019 United States Virgin Islands electoral system referendum

The referendum was a popular initiative put forward by the St. Croix Government Retirees organization. In order for the initiative to go to a referendum, the organization was required to collect the signatures of at least 10% of registered voters in the two electoral districts, St Croix and St Thomas/St John. They collected 2,343 signatures in St Croix (above the 2,298 required) and 2,553 in St Thomas/St John (where 2,530 were required), meaning that the proposal would be put to a public vote.^[2]

In order for the referendum result to be valid, a majority would need to vote in favor of the proposal and voter turnout be above 50%.^[1]

Prior to the referendum, the 15 members of the Legislature consisted of fourteen members elected from two seven-member districts (St Croix and St Thomas/St John) and one at-large member (who had to be a St John resident).^[3] The proposals would see both St Croix and St Thomas divided into two two-member districts, while St John would be a single-member district. Three at-large members would also be elected from both St Croix and St Thomas.^[4]