# Falklands referendum: Islanders vote to remain British **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675 "2013-03-12T02:19:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/1 "2013-03-12T02:19:43Z")
Pretty overwhelming support for remaining British. 90% turnout in an election is amazing. Argentina’s statement that the inhabitants wishes are not relevant is just ridiculous. These people have lived on the Falklands for over hundred-fifty years. They certainly have the right to choose their own futures. > **[Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909)** > > The people of the Falkland Islands overwhelmingly vote to remain a British territory and the UK government urges "all countries" to respect their wishes. > [@](#): > > Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum, 1,513 were in favour of keeping the current status, while just three votes were against. > > There was a turnout of more than 90% from 1,672 British citizens eligible to vote in a population of about 2,900. > [@](#): > > Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said the inhabitants’ wishes are not relevant in what is a territorial issue. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/2 "2013-03-12T02:35:52Z")
99.7%, and Comrade Stalin wasn’t even on the ballot! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/3 "2013-03-12T03:33:36Z")
Earlier thread: [What's the Deal with the Falkland Islands? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639682) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/4 "2013-03-12T05:52:11Z")
I guess the biggest question is whether it’s worth any more lives fighting over a small island with just under 3000 people. It seems like Argentina would have learned their lesson the last time. But realistically there’s a limit to how many British troops should be committed to protecting the Island. Some sort of settlement needs to be worked out. What that is? I’m not sure. > [@](#): > > In two months of fighting after the UK military responded, 255 British and about 650 Argentine servicemen were killed, along with three Falklands civilians, before Argentine forces surrendered. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/5 "2013-03-12T07:19:59Z")
Isn’t that a bit like making western Long Island vote on whether to stay in the US or become Dutch? Or having a vote in Carrickfergus, NI (86.1% Protestant) show that most people want to be part of the UK? This isn’t quite the same situation as Cyprus (and the vote there is not what you’d expect). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/6 "2013-03-12T07:40:56Z")
The difference here is the island was briefly occupied by Argentina thirty years ago. It can’t be much fun being threatened by a country that isn’t very far away. Britain is on the other side of the world and reinforcements are a long way away. I’m surprised more people didn’t vote against continuing British citizenship. I guess it depends on how they would be treated under Argentine rule. If promised autonomy then who knows. They might vote for it. ---
**Author:** ![Virgil\_Tibbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Virgil\_Tibbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virgil_Tibbs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/7 "2013-03-12T10:23:30Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Isn’t that a bit like making western Long Island vote on whether to stay in the US or become Dutch? Or having a vote in Carrickfergus, NI (86.1% Protestant) show that most people want to be part of the UK? The Falklands are an island group in the middle of the sea. So no. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/8 "2013-03-12T10:53:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m surprised more people didn’t vote against continuing British citizenship. I guess it depends on how they would be treated under Argentine rule. If promised autonomy then who knows. They might vote for it. They would be royally screwed. Argentina do not have a stellar record on this matter. I’d read up on how they have managed their own affairs over the past 50 years and then compare and contrast with the UK. That’ll answer most of your questions. An uninhabited island group in the middle of the sea, stable population, self-financing and with democratic government for 180 years and given full UN backing for self-determination. Not sure why they’d want to change. Other than “we’re closer and we like the look of your fish and oil” what claim do Argentina have? (considering that they didn’t even even exist at the point that the UK claimed the Islands). Bigger thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639682) for those interested. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/9 "2013-03-12T10:56:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m surprised more people didn’t vote against continuing British citizenship. Really, you’re surprised that people didn’t vote to come under the control of a country that the last time they had much contact with was a military occupation by a fascist dictatorship? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/10 "2013-03-12T12:03:32Z")
Were the three votes against a protest or a joke or something? ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/11 "2013-03-12T12:49:14Z")
Probably. But I like to think that there are three Falkland Islanders who, having kept their end of the deal, are looking forward to a lifetime supply of steak. In some ways, 99.7% is almost more convincing than 100% - it shows that people did at least know they could vote the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/12 "2013-03-12T13:59:18Z")
Just out of idle curiosity, why is it that almost half the population wasn’t eligible to vote? 1300 or so ineligible vs 1672 eligible. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/13 "2013-03-12T14:01:37Z")
Because they’re penguins. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/14 "2013-03-12T14:56:33Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Just out of idle curiosity, why is it that almost half the population wasn’t eligible to vote? 1300 or so ineligible vs 1672 eligible. Only those adults with Falklands Islands legal status were eligible to vote. Take out the kids and immigrant workers and the 1672 is all that is left. Similar statistics can be seen in other British Overseas Territories. Cayman, with a population somewhere around 55,000 only has about 18,000 eligible voters. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/15 "2013-03-12T18:33:23Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Were the three votes against a protest or a joke or something? It’s suspected they are people in favour of independence. Was just reading a piece from [the Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/shortcuts/2013/mar/12/falkland-islanders-who-voted-no) on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/16 "2013-03-12T18:58:38Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Isn’t that a bit like making western Long Island vote on whether to stay in the US or become Dutch? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/17 "2013-03-12T19:46:56Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > It’s suspected they are people in favour of independence. Was just reading a piece from [the Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/shortcuts/2013/mar/12/falkland-islanders-who-voted-no) on the subject. Quite interesting - thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/18 "2013-03-12T19:47:38Z")
It’s more like Puerto Rico voting on whether to stay a US territory, but with Venezuela saying that they have a territorial right to it and demanding talks with the US, even after having had an invasion force repulsed 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Srsly\_Dad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Srsly\_Dad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Srsly_Dad)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/19 "2013-03-12T20:38:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum, 1,513 were in favour of keeping the current status, while just three votes were against. OK, so what was the other 1 vote for? Becoming Canadian? Inquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675/20 "2013-03-12T20:42:45Z")
> [@Srsly\_Dad](#): > > OK, so what was the other 1 vote for? Becoming Canadian? > > Inquiring minds want to know. Something to do with Independence and World Domination. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falklands-referendum-islanders-vote-to-remain-british/652675.md?page=2)