1977 Swiss referendums

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politics and government of
Switzerland

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]

Contents

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]

Results

March: Foreign infiltration

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For495,90429.5000
Against1,182,82070.519622
Blank votes29,949
Invalid votes2,382
Total1,711,05510019622
Registered voters/turnout3,785,69345.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Limiting naturalisation

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For568,86733.8000
Against1,116,18866.219622
Blank votes24,673
Invalid votes2,245
Total1,711,97310019622
Registered voters/turnout3,785,69345.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Changes to treaty referendums

ChoicePopular initiativeCounterproposal
Popular voteCantonsPopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotalVotes%FullHalfTotal
For351,12721.9000978,99961.018520.5
Against1,158,37672.219622502,82531.3111.5
No answer94,9445.9122,6237.6
Blank votes69,93569,935
Invalid votes27,51927,519
Total1,701,901100196221,701,90110019622
Registered voters/turnout3,785,69345.03,785,69345.0
Source: Direct Democracy

June: Changes to sales tax and direct federal tax

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For760,83040.5101
Against1,117,04459.518621
Blank votes18,616
Invalid votes1,778
Total1,898,26810019622
Registered voters/turnout3,795,79650.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Tax harmonisation

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For1,133,65261.316317.5
Against715,07238.7334.5
Blank votes43,906
Invalid votes2,025
Total1,894,65510019622
Registered voters/turnout3,795,79649.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Protection of tenants

ChoicePopular initiativeCounterproposal
Popular voteCantonsPopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotalVotes%FullHalfTotal
For796,82542.2313.5777,60441.2122
Against1,043,79855.316518.5944,80650.118420
No answer45,8112.4164,0248.7
Blank votes58,75758,757
Invalid votes20,99020,990
Total1,966,181100196221,966,18110019622
Registered voters/turnout3,811,42651.63,811,42651.6
Source: Direct Democracy

September: Air pollution

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For740,84239.0111.5
Against1,157,36861.018520.5
Blank votes68,519
Invalid votes2,772
Total1,969,50110019622
Registered voters/turnout3,811,42651.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Increasing the number of signatures required for optional referendums

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For1,095,63157.815618
Against798,41642.2404
Blank votes69,730
Invalid votes3,328
Total1,967,55510019622
Registered voters/turnout3,811,42651.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For1,068,15756.716619
Against815,48843.3303
Blank votes81,379
Invalid votes2,999
Total1,968,02310019622
Registered voters/turnout3,811,42651.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Abortion

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For929,32548.3627
Against994,93051.713415
Blank votes51,680
Invalid votes3,228
Total1,979,16310019622
Registered voters/turnout3,811,42651.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Wealth tax

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For637,99444.4212.5
Against800,13855.617519.5
Blank votes22,090
Invalid votes1,264
Total1,461,48610019622
Registered voters/turnout3,816,82438.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Political rights

ChoiceVotes%
For809,86259.4
Against552,96240.6
Blank votes90,008
Invalid votes1,688
Total1,454,520100
Registered voters/turnout3,816,82438.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Civilian service

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For533,73337.6000
Against885,86862.419622
Blank votes40,069
Invalid votes1,503
Total1,461,17310019622
Registered voters/turnout3,816,82438.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Balancing the federal budget

ChoiceVotes%
For869,26662.4
Against523,12537.6
Blank votes62,749
Invalid votes1,526
Total1,456,666100
Registered voters/turnout3,816,82438.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. 1 2 Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1924–1925 ISBN   9783832956097
  2. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1924
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1925