1920 Swiss referendums

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Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1920. [1] The first three were held on 21 March on a federal law on regulating employment contracts, a ban on creating gambling establishments and a counterproposal to the ban. [1] The fourth was held on 16 May on membership the League of Nations (which Switzerland had become a founding member of the previous year), [2] whilst the fifth was held on 31 October on a federal law on working times on railways and other transport services. [1] Of the five, only the ban on gambling establishments, League of Nations membership and the law on working times were passed. [1]

Contents

Background

The referendum on joining the League of Nations was a mandatory referendum, whilst the ban on gambling establishments was a popular initiative. [1] Together with the counter-proposal, all three required a double majority; a majority of the popular vote and majority of the cantons. [3] The decision of each canton was based on the vote in that canton. [3] Full cantons counted as one vote, whilst half cantons counted as half. [3] The referendums on employment contracts and working times were optional referendums, [1] which required only a majority of the public vote. [3]

According to a contemporary analysis, support and opposition for joining the League of Nations were organized along the following lines:

Acceptance of membership in the league was strongly favored by the powerful Independent Democratic (Radical) party, the Liberal Democratic (Protestant Conservative) party, the recently formed anti-bolshevist Peasants' party, the Christian Social party, and the Griitlianer. The Catholic Conservatives were divided, some of their most eminent leaders, both lay and clerical, being found in opposing camps. The Socialists who have accepted bolshevism leadership fought the league with all their accustomed arguments and bitterness. Curiously enough, the same attitude was taken by a group of the higher officers of the Swiss army, led by Ulrich Wille, the former general in chief. Party lines were more or less cut across, however, by racial, linguistic, religious and personal prejudices. [2]

Results

Federal law on regulating employment contracts

ChoiceVotes%
For254,45549.8
Against256,40150.2
Blank votes36,755
Invalid votes30,396
Total578,007100
Registered voters/turnout957,38660.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Ban on creating gambling establishments

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For276,02155.313214
Against223,12244.7648
Blank votes23,138
Invalid votes45,538
Total567,81910019622
Registered voters/turnout957,38659.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Counterproposal on gambling establishments

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For122,24026.1010.5
Against345,32773.919521.5
Blank votes23,138
Invalid votes45,538
Total536,24310019622
Registered voters/turnout957,38656.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

League of Nations membership

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For416,87056.310311.5
Against323,71943.79310.5
Blank votes6,502
Invalid votes4,039
Total751,13010019622
Registered voters/turnout968,32777.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Federal law on working time

ChoiceVotes%
For369,46657.1
Against277,34242.9
Blank votes8,618
Invalid votes1,487
Total656,913100
Registered voters/turnout964,58768.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1908 ISBN   9783832956097
  2. 1 2 Brooks, Robert C. (1920). "Swiss Referendum on the League of Nations". American Political Science Review. 14 (3): 477–480. doi:10.2307/1946268. ISSN   0003-0554.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Nohlen & Stöver, p1891