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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesA Draft of the Fifth Constitution of the Virgin Islands

A Draft of the Fifth Constitution of the Virgin Islands

A Draft of Articles III and IV of the Fifth Constitution of the Virgin Islands.
*These drafts are subject to further review by legal counsel.

Article III Virgin Islander

Native Virgin Islander:
(a) a person born or domiciled in the Virgin Islands prior to 1932 and their descendants, pursuant to 8 USC Section 1406 in pertinent part. (Full text will be included).
(b) descendants of a person born in the Virgin Islands, residing outside of the U.S., its territories and possessions between January 17, 1917 and June 28, 1932 not subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. and who is not a citizen or a subject of any foreign country.
Virgin Islander:
A person born in the Virgin Islands after 1932.
Virgin Island Resident:
A person born outside of the Virgin Islands who has been domiciled in the Virgin Islands
For at least five years and satifies any other requirements established by law.
Committee on Suffrage, Election, Initiative, Referendum and Recall

ARTICLE IV. SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS

RIGHT TO VOTE

Section 1.
(a) No citizen of the United States and the Virgin Islands shall be barred from holding any public or elected office in the Virgin Islands on the account of his place of birth or ancestry as long as all other requirements as provided by law are satisfied.
(b) Every citizen of the United States and the Virgin Islands eighteen (18) years of age or older and registered to vote in the Virgin Islands shall have the right to vote. No property, language, literacy, or income qualifications may be imposed, but a minimum period of residency in the Virgin Islands may be required by law. Persons who are adjudged mentally incompetent, or serving a sentence after conviction of a felony may be disqualified from voting by law.
REGULAR GENERAL ELECTION

Section 2. The regular general election of the Virgin Islands shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November in each even numbered year. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Senate shall be elected at a regular general election. Other elections, initiative, referenda, and matters with respect to election procedures shall be as provided by law.
DATE OF TAKING OFFICE

Section 3. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor elected at a regular election shall take office on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in January following the election. All other public officials elected at the regular general election shall take office as provided by law.
OATH OR AFFIRMATION

Section 4. No political or religious test, other than an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution and laws of the Virgin Islands and the Constitution and laws of the United States applicable to the Virgin Islands, shall be required as a qualification for public office.
COMPENSATION

Section 5. Elected officials shall receive compensation as provided by law.

Editor's note: Share your thoughts on this section of the draft of the proposed constitution with other Source readers. Please include on the subject line the section you are writing about, and at the end of your letter include your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

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