By a vote of 325 to 249, the French Parliament passed a law on 15 April 1984 on holding an independence referendum in New Caledonia.

[1] Independence movements including the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front boycotted the referendum in protest at the franchise requirements, which made the indigenous population a minority.

[1][2] Although former French president François Mitterrand had promised short-term residents of the territory would not be able to vote, they were enfranchised for the referendum.

[3] As a result of claimed failures to respect the rights of the indigenous population, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization did not send observers.

[3] Voters were asked "Do you wish New Caledonia to remain in the French Republic, or do you wish it to become independent?"