This article is part of a series on the |
Switzerlandportal |
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977. [1] The first three were held on 13 March on popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties (which also had a counter-proposal). All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved. [2] The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved). [2]
The next set of referendums was held on 25 September on popular initiatives on protecting tenants (rejected, with a counter-proposal also rejected), air pollution caused by motor vehicles (rejected), and a law allowing abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy (rejected), as well as on two government proposals to raise the number of signatures required for optional referendums (approved) and popular initiatives (approved). [1]
The final four referendums were held on 4 December on a popular initiative on a wealth tax (rejected) and three federal law on political rights (approved), creating a civilian alternative to military service (rejected) and on balancing the federal budget (approved). [3]
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 495,904 | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Against | 1,182,820 | 70.5 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Blank votes | 29,949 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 2,382 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,711,055 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,785,693 | 45.2 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 568,867 | 33.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Against | 1,116,188 | 66.2 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Blank votes | 24,673 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 2,245 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,711,973 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,785,693 | 45.2 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular initiative | Counterproposal | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Popular vote | Cantons | Popular vote | Cantons | |||||||
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | |
For | 351,127 | 21.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 978,999 | 61.0 | 18 | 5 | 20.5 |
Against | 1,158,376 | 72.2 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 502,825 | 31.3 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 |
No answer | 94,944 | 5.9 | – | – | – | 122,623 | 7.6 | – | – | – |
Blank votes | 69,935 | – | – | – | – | 69,935 | – | – | – | – |
Invalid votes | 27,519 | – | – | – | – | 27,519 | – | – | – | – |
Total | 1,701,901 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 1,701,901 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
Registered voters/turnout | 3,785,693 | 45.0 | – | – | – | 3,785,693 | 45.0 | – | – | – |
Source: Direct Democracy |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 760,830 | 40.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Against | 1,117,044 | 59.5 | 18 | 6 | 21 | |||||
Blank votes | 18,616 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 1,778 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,898,268 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,795,796 | 50.0 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 1,133,652 | 61.3 | 16 | 3 | 17.5 | |||||
Against | 715,072 | 38.7 | 3 | 3 | 4.5 | |||||
Blank votes | 43,906 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 2,025 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,894,655 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,795,796 | 49.9 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular initiative | Counterproposal | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Popular vote | Cantons | Popular vote | Cantons | |||||||
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | |
For | 796,825 | 42.2 | 3 | 1 | 3.5 | 777,604 | 41.2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Against | 1,043,798 | 55.3 | 16 | 5 | 18.5 | 944,806 | 50.1 | 18 | 4 | 20 |
No answer | 45,811 | 2.4 | – | – | – | 164,024 | 8.7 | – | – | – |
Blank votes | 58,757 | – | – | – | – | 58,757 | – | – | – | – |
Invalid votes | 20,990 | – | – | – | – | 20,990 | – | – | – | – |
Total | 1,966,181 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 1,966,181 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
Registered voters/turnout | 3,811,426 | 51.6 | – | – | – | 3,811,426 | 51.6 | – | – | – |
Source: Direct Democracy |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 740,842 | 39.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | |||||
Against | 1,157,368 | 61.0 | 18 | 5 | 20.5 | |||||
Blank votes | 68,519 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 2,772 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,969,501 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,811,426 | 51.7 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 1,095,631 | 57.8 | 15 | 6 | 18 | |||||
Against | 798,416 | 42.2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |||||
Blank votes | 69,730 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 3,328 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,967,555 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,811,426 | 51.6 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 1,068,157 | 56.7 | 16 | 6 | 19 | |||||
Against | 815,488 | 43.3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||||
Blank votes | 81,379 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 2,999 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,968,023 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,811,426 | 51.6 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 929,325 | 48.3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | |||||
Against | 994,930 | 51.7 | 13 | 4 | 15 | |||||
Blank votes | 51,680 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 3,228 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,979,163 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,811,426 | 51.9 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 637,994 | 44.4 | 2 | 1 | 2.5 | |||||
Against | 800,138 | 55.6 | 17 | 5 | 19.5 | |||||
Blank votes | 22,090 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 1,264 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,461,486 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,816,824 | 38.3 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 809,862 | 59.4 |
Against | 552,962 | 40.6 |
Blank votes | 90,008 | – |
Invalid votes | 1,688 | – |
Total | 1,454,520 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 3,816,824 | 38.1 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | ||||||
For | 533,733 | 37.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Against | 885,868 | 62.4 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Blank votes | 40,069 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Invalid votes | 1,503 | – | – | – | – | |||||
Total | 1,461,173 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | |||||
Registered voters/turnout | 3,816,824 | 38.3 | – | – | – | |||||
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
For | 869,266 | 62.4 |
Against | 523,125 | 37.6 |
Blank votes | 62,749 | – |
Invalid votes | 1,526 | – |
Total | 1,456,666 | 100 |
Registered voters/turnout | 3,816,824 | 38.2 |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1929. The first three were held on 3 March on the issues of grain supply and a federal law on tariffs. The counter-proposal to the grain supply question and the tariffs law were both approved. The fourth and fifth referendums were held on 12 May on popular initiatives on road traffic and banning spirits. Both were rejected by voters.
Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 1938. The first four were held on 20 February; the first on amending articles 107 and 116 of the constitution to make Romansch an official language, which was approved by over 90% of voters and all cantons. The second was on a popular initiative "on urgent federal resolutions and the protection of people's rights" and was rejected by 85% of voters. The third was on a popular initiative on the private arms industry, and was also rejected by a wide margin, whilst the fourth was on a counter-proposal to the arms industry question, and was approved by voters. The fifth referendum was held on 3 July on the penal code, and was approved. The sixth and final referendum of the year was held on 27 November on a federal resolution on the transient order of the federal budget, and was approved by 72% of voters.
Four referendums were held in Switzerland in 1961. The first two were held on 5 March on an amendment to the constitution regarding oil pipelines and a fuel tax to fund national roads. The constitutional amendment was approved, but the fuel tax rejected. The third referendum was held on 22 October on a popular initiative on using popular initiatives for federal-level laws, and was rejected by voters. The fourth referendum was on a federal resolution on the clock industry, and was approved by two-thirds of voters.
Seven referendums were held in Switzerland in 1972. The first two were held on 5 March on a popular initiative on the promotion of housebuilding and on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution to protect tenants. The popular initiative was rejected, whilst the constitutional amendment was approved. The third and fourth were held on 4 June on measures to stabilise the federal construction market and protecting currency, both of which were approved. The fifth was held on 24 September on a popular initiative for enhanced arms control and a ban on weapon exports, but was narrowly rejected. The final two were held on 3 December on a popular initiative on introducing a "people's pension" and on an agreement with the European Community. The pensions initiative was rejected, whilst the agreement was approved.
Ten referendums were held in Switzerland in 1976. The first two were held on 21 March on popular initiatives "for employees' participation", and "for taxation reform". The next three were held on 13 June on a federal law on spatial planning (rejected), a CHF 200 million loan to the International Development Association (rejected), and renewing unemployment insurance (approved).
Six referendums were held in Switzerland in 1980. The first two were held on 2 March on a popular initiative on the complete separation of church and state, which was rejected, and a federal resolution on reorganising national supply, which was approved. The next four were held on 30 November on a federal law requiring the wearing of seat belts and helmets, abolishing the cantonal share of stamp duty, the destination of taxes on spirits and changing regulations on breadstuffs, all of which were approved.
Three referendums were held in Switzerland in 1982. The first two were held on 6 June on an amendment to the Swiss penal code, which was approved, and on a new law on foreigners, which was narrowly rejected. The last were held on 28 November on a popular initiative "for the prevention of abusive prices", alongside a counter-proposal. The initiative was approved and the counter-proposal rejected.
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978. The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved). The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).
Eleven referendums were held in Switzerland during 2001. The first three were held on 4 March on popular initiatives on joining the European Union, lowering medicine prices and lowering the urban speed limit to 30 km/h in most places. All three were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 10 June on two separate amendments to the federal law on the Swiss army and on a federal resolution on abolishing the requirement for a permit to establish a diocese, all of which were approved.
Six referendums were held in Switzerland in 1986. The first was held on 16 March on joining the United Nations, but was rejected by 76% of voters. The next three were held on 29 September on popular initiatives on culture and vocational education and a federal resolution on the domestic sugar economy. All three were rejected, including the counter-proposal to the culture initiative.
Seven referendums were held in Switzerland in 1987. The first four were held on 5 April on amendments to the laws on asylum and foreign residents, a popular initiative "for the people's co-determination of military expenditure" (rejected) and a federal resolution on the voting system for popular initiatives that also have counter-proposals (approved).
Ten referendums were held in Switzerland in 1990. The first six were held on 1 April on four popular initiatives, a federal resolution on viticulture and an amendment to the federal law on the organisation of the federal judiciary. The four popular initiatives were all related to roadbuilding; "Stop the concrete – for a limitation on road making," "for an autobahn-free countryside between Murten and Yverdon," "for an autobahn-free Knonauer Amt," and "for a free Aarelandschaft between Biel and Solothurn/Zuchwil." All six were rejected by voters.
Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1992. The first two were held on 16 February on popular initiatives "for a financially bearable health insurance" and "for the drastic and stepwise limitation of animal experiments." Both were rejected by voters. The next seven were held on 17 May on joining and contributing to the Bretton Woods system, a federal law on water protection (approved), a popular initiative "for the recovery of our waters" (rejected), a federal resolution on the popular initiative "against the malpractice of gene technology on humans" (approved), a federal resolution on creating a civilian service alternative to military service (approved) and a change to the Strafgesetzbuch and the Military and Penal Codes on sexual integrity (approved).
Sixteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1993. The first three were held on 7 March on a federal law to raise fuel taxes (approved), a federal resolution on lifting the ban on gambling establishments (approved) and a popular initiative on banning animal testing (rejected). The next two were held on 6 June on two popular initiatives; "40 military training areas are enough–environment projection at military" and "for a Switzerland without new warplanes". Both were rejected by voters.
Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004. The first three were held on 8 February on a counter proposal to the popular initiative "for safe and efficient motorways" (rejected), an amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law (rejected) and a popular initiative "life-long custody for non-curable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent criminals" (approved). The second set of three was held on 16 May on a revision of the federal law on Aged and Bereaved insurance, a federal resolution on financing the Aged and Bereaved insurance, and a federal law that would affect taxation for married couples, families, private housing and stamp duty, all of which were rejected.
Eight referendums were held in Switzerland during 2002. The first two were held on 3 March on popular initiatives for Switzerland to join the United Nations and to reduce working hours. UN membership was approved, whilst the shorter working hours proposal was rejected. The next two were held on 2 June on amending the penal code regarding abortion, which was approved, and a popular initiative "for mother and child", which was rejected.
Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1994. The first five were held on 20 February on federal resolutions on roadbuilding, continuing existing truck tolls and varying tolls based on engine power or mileage, as well as a popular initiative "for the protection of the alpine region from through traffic" and an amendment to the aeronautical law. All five were approved by voters. The second set of referendums was held on 12 June on federal resolutions on an article on the Swiss Federal Constitution on the promotion of culture and a review of the procedure for naturalising young immigrants, as well as a federal law on Swiss troops in peacekeeping operations. Whilst the resolutions were both approved by a majority of voters, they did not receive the approval from the majority of cantons, so were rejected, as was the law on troops.
Nine referendums were held in Switzerland during 1996. The first five were held on 10 March on revising article 116 of the Swiss Federal Constitution regarding language, abolishing the cantons' responsibilities for providing army equipment, abolishing the federal requirement to purchase distilling equipment, abolishing federal financing of parking areas at rail stations, and whether municipality of Vellerat should become part of the canton of Jura. All proposals except the one regarding army equipment were approved.
Ten referendums were held in Switzerland during 1998. The first three were held on 7 June on a federal resolution on a balanced budget and two popular initiatives "for the protection of life and environment against genetic engineering " and "Switzerland without secret police". Whilst the balanced budget proposal was approved, both popular initiatives were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 27 September on a federal law on truck tolls based on engine size and two popular initiatives "for well-priced foodstuffs and ecological farms" and "10th revision of the Aged and Bereaved Insurance without raising the retirement age". Whilst the toll law was approved, both initiatives were rejected.
Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy ", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.