A referendum on the voting age was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 3 November 1970.^[1] After the Legislature of the Islands requested a referendum take place, it was approved by the United States Congress on 6 October 1970.^[1] Voters were given the options of 18, 19, 20 or 21, and the winning option had to receive an absolute majority of the vote.^[1] Although the results saw 55.67% vote in favor of setting the voting age at 18,^[1] when the blank votes were included, this dropped to 46.71%. A lawsuit was subsequently filed on 1 December 1970, and on 21 January 1971 a court decided that the blank ballots should be discarded, giving the 18 option an absolute majority of votes.^[1]

Prior to the Elective Governor Acts of 1968, the governor of the US Virgin Islands was appointed. Melvin H. Evans was the first governor elected under the new system.