Compact plebiscite: 20,121 yes to 5,348 no (79% of valid votes; Wikipedia prints 76.9%); Ponape the only state voting no.

What happened

Under UN observation, voters were asked whether they approved the Compact; about 63% of registered voters took part. Most said yes, but a majority in Ponape voted no, and on a second, fallback question most voters nationwide chose independence if the Compact failed. The UN mission’s chairman praised the polling and counting as “very well done, indeed.”

Why it matters

The yes vote opened the way for ratification by Congress and the states and for US approval, which ended US administration in 1986.