1946 Faroese independence referendum

An independence referendum was held in the Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, on 14 September 1946. Although a narrow majority of valid votes were cast in favour of the proposal (50.7%), the number of invalid votes exceeded the winning margin. Although independence was declared by the Speaker of the Løgting on 18 September 1946, the declaration was not recognised by Denmark. Danish King Christian X dissolved the Løgting and called fresh elections, which were won by unionist parties. The islands were subsequently given a greater level of self-rule.

1946 Faroese independence referendum

14 September 1946 (1946-09-14)
Do you want the Faroe Islands to separate from Denmark?
Outcome	Results not recognised by Denmark. Home rule established on the Faroe Islands.
Results
Choice Votes  % Independence 5,660 50.72% Home Rule with Denmark 5,499 49.28% Valid votes 11,159 95.87% Invalid or blank votes 481 4.13% Total votes 11,640 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 17,216 67.61%
Results by island   Union   Independence

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		5,660	50.72
Against		5,499	49.28
Total		11,159	100.00
Valid votes		11,159	95.87
Invalid/blank votes		481	4.13
Total votes		11,640	100.00
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 50.7% in favour of full independence to 49.3% in favour of home rule within Denmark.^[1]

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

• Faroe Islands portal

• Faroese independence movement
• Faroese language conflict

References

1. Faroe Islands, 14 September 1946: Status Direct Democracy (in English and 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.