The justification for the decision was that, if the vote were open to all Tokelauans irrespective of any residential requirement, not only would the referendum logistically be very difficult to organize but it could also override the voices of those who did actually reside in Tokelau.
其理由是，如果放弃居住要求而向全体托克劳人开放投票，公民投票的后勤问题很难解决，而且也无法听到在托克劳实际居住的居民的声音。