Falkland Islands Vote: Voters 'Couldn't Have Spoken More Clearly,' Cameron Tells Argentina

Despite being almost 8,000 miles away from their motherland, citizens of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly Monday to stay British. The archipelago, only 300 miles from Argentina, held elections this week to decide who would possess their sovereignty. With only three out of an estimated 1,500 votes cast, the verdict was overwhelmingly in favor of Queen Elizabeth II.

However, Argentina is not giving up on the islands, for which the country unsuccessfully fought a war against England in the mid-20th Century. Argentine President Cristina Fernández has repeatedly asked for open discussion with London over the sovereignty of the islands.

One noteworthy aspect of the election was the wording of the ballot. It asked voters to select whether or not they would desire to continue to be under the auspices of Britain, with no mention of independence or allegiance to Argentina.

Turnout for the vote reached 92 percent, a statistic markedly higher than elections in most western nations, including the United States, where the turnout for the hotly contested 2012 elections was just under 59 percent.

British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged unfailing protection to the colony following the vote, showing his appreciation of the support of the Falklands' residents. He called the 99 percent support for the referendum "the clearest possible result there could be."