1946 Faroese independence referendum

An independence referendum was held in the Faroe Islands on 14 September 1946.

Results by island:

  For Union

  For Secession

Results

Choice	Votes	%
Independence	5,660	50.73
Continued union with Denmark	5,499	49.27
Invalid/blank votes	481	–
Total	11,640	100
Registered voters/turnout	17,216	67.61
Source: Direct Democracy

By island

Island	Independence		Continued Union		Invalid/ blank	Total	Registered voters	Turnout
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Norðoyar	956	70.6	398	29.4	64	1,418	2,220	63.9
Eysturoy	1,052	43.3	1,376	56.7	99	2,527	3,854	65.6
Norðurstreymoy	622	53.4	543	46.6	42	1,207	1,679	71.9
Vágar	614	58.6	434	41.4	38	1,086	1,485	73.1
Suðurstreymoy	1,308	66.0	674	34.0	145	2,127	3,323	64.0
Sandoy	465	61.9	286	38.1	32	783	1,053	74.4
Suðuroy	643	26.5	1,788	73.5	61	2,492	3,602	69.2
Total	5,660	50.7	5,499	49.3	481	11,640	17,216	67.6

Aftermath

The result – without taking the invalid votes into regard – was 50.73% in favour of full independence to 49.27% in favour of home rule within Denmark.[1]

However, there were 4.1% invalid votes, mostly voters who rejected both proposals. Some politicians from the People's Party had suggested that a third option of a sovereign Faroe Islands within a union with Denmark should be on the ballot (similar to the status the Kingdom of Iceland had 1918–44), but since this proposal was not put on the ballot, they suggested that voters write 'no' to the first proposal the ballot instead of choosing either alternative, while some Social Democrats in favour of keeping the status quo recommended writing 'no' to the second proposal.

Subsequently, there was disunion about the interpretation of the result, as there was no full majority for either proposal; only a slight plurality for option 2, the full independence.

The chairman of the Løgting subsequently declared independence on 18 September 1946, but this was not recognised either by a majority of the Løgting or the Danish parliament and government. King Christian X of Denmark dissolved the Løgting on 24 September and called for new elections.[2][3] The dissolution of the Løgting was on 8 November followed by the Faroese parliamentary election of 1946 in which the parties in favour of full independence received a total of 5,396 votes while the parties against received a total of 7,488 votes.[4] New negotiations followed, and Denmark granted the Faroe Islands home-rule on 30 March 1948.[2]

See also

• Faroese independence movement
• Faroese language conflict

References

1. Faroe Islands, 14 September 1946: Status Direct Democracy (in German)
2. Faeroe Islands World Statesman
3. Steining, Jørgen (1953). "Rigsdagen og Færøerne". In Bomholt, Jul.; Fabricius, Knud; Hjelholt, Holger; Mackeprang, M.; Møller Andr. (eds.). Den danske rigsdag 1849-1949 bind VI (in Danish). Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag. p. 187.
4. Steining, p. 188.