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Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1992. [1] 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. [2] The next seven were held on 17 May on joining and contributing to the Bretton Woods system (both approved), 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). [3]
A third set of six referendums was held on 27 September on a federal resolution on building a transalpine rail route (approved), a federal law on the standing orders of the Federal Assembly (approved), federal laws on the salaries and expenses of members of the Federal Assembly (both rejected), an amendment to the stamp duty law (approved) and a federal law on farmland (approved). [4] The final referendum was held on 6 December on a federal resolution on the European Economic Area (rejected). [5] [6]
Month | Question | For | Against | Blank/invalid | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | Blank | Invalid | Full | Half | Full | Half | |||||
February | Popular initiative on health insurance | 772,995 | 39.3 | 1,195,550 | 60.7 | 31,969 | 4,469 | 2,004,983 | 4,515,485 | 44.4 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6 |
Popular initiative on animal experiments | 864,898 | 43.6 | 1,117,236 | 56.4 | 22,854 | 4,412 | 2,009,400 | 44.5 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 5 | ||
May | Joining Bretton Woods | 923,685 | 55.8 | 730,553 | 44.2 | 95,836 | 3,383 | 1,753,457 | 4,519,144 | 38.8 | ||||
Contribution to Bretton Woods | 929,926 | 56.4 | 718,257 | 43.6 | 101,607 | 3,488 | 1,753,278 | 38.8 | ||||||
Federal law on water protection | 1,151,706 | 66.1 | 591,240 | 33.9 | 26,233 | 2,664 | 1,771,843 | 39.2 | ||||||
Popular initiative on water protection | 644,083 | 37.1 | 1,093,987 | 62.9 | 31,086 | 2,566 | 1,771,722 | 39.2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||
Popular initiative on gene technology | 1,271,052 | 73.8 | 450,635 | 26.2 | 45,657 | 3,143 | 1,770,487 | 39.2 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
Civilian service | 1,442,263 | 82.5 | 305,441 | 17.5 | 22,027 | 2,408 | 1,772,139 | 39.2 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
Changes to the Strafgesetzbuch | 1,255,604 | 73.1 | 461,723 | 26.9 | 48,500 | 2,925 | 1,768,752 | 39.1 | ||||||
September | New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) proposal | 1,305,914 | 63.6 | 747,048 | 36.4 | 24,945 | 2,878 | 2,080,785 | 4,533,617 | 45.9 | ||||
Standing orders of the Federal Assembly | 1,097,185 | 58.0 | 794,132 | 42.0 | 162,708 | 4,685 | 2,058,710 | 45.4 | ||||||
Salary of Federal Assembly members | 542,768 | 27.6 | 1,424,954 | 72.4 | 93,732 | 3,649 | 2,065,103 | 45.6 | ||||||
Expenses of Federal Assembly members | 590,484 | 30.6 | 1,339,597 | 69.4 | 127,774 | 3,894 | 2,061,749 | 45.5 | ||||||
Amendment to the stamp duty law | 1,203,579 | 61.5 | 771,351 | 38.5 | 65,275 | 3,332 | 2,070,537 | 45.7 | ||||||
Law on farmland | 1,058,317 | 53.6 | 917,091 | 46.4 | 90,249 | 4,054 | 2,069,711 | 45.7 | ||||||
December | Federal resolution on the European Economic Area | 1,762,872 | 49.7 | 1,786,708 | 50.3 | 23,487 | 7,027 | 3,580,094 | 4,546,571 | 78.7 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 4 |
Source: Nohlen |
|
Canton | Yes | No | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout (%) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
Zürich | 297,503 | 48.48 | 316,154 | 51.52 | 4,552 | 618,209 | 768,126 | 80.48 |
Bern | 255,224 | 47.59 | 281,026 | 52.41 | 3,929 | 540,179 | 686,459 | 78.69 |
Lucerne | 70,878 | 39.31 | 109,447 | 60.69 | 1,289 | 181,614 | 224,458 | 80.91 |
Uri | 4,943 | 25.13 | 14,728 | 74.87 | 145 | 19,816 | 25,290 | 78.36 |
Schwyz | 17,094 | 26.69 | 46,962 | 73.31 | 259 | 64,315 | 77,278 | 83.23 |
Obwalden | 4,737 | 28.20 | 12,062 | 71.80 | 141 | 16,940 | 20,713 | 81.78 |
Nidwalden | 6,957 | 33.86 | 13,590 | 66.14 | 264 | 20,811 | 24,745 | 84.10 |
Glarus | 6,290 | 31.95 | 13,398 | 68.05 | 92 | 19,780 | 24,814 | 79.71 |
Zug | 22,037 | 43.83 | 28,239 | 56.17 | 372 | 50,648 | 58,104 | 87.17 |
Fribourg | 72,101 | 64.89 | 39,017 | 35.11 | 1,006 | 112,124 | 146,744 | 76.41 |
Solothurn | 56,554 | 42.59 | 76,233 | 57.41 | 2,389 | 135,176 | 161,531 | 83.68 |
Basel-Stadt | 52,519 | 55.43 | 42,226 | 44.57 | 818 | 95,563 | 132,051 | 72.37 |
Basel-Landschaft | 68,001 | 53.18 | 59,872 | 46.82 | 1,229 | 129,102 | 161,211 | 80.08 |
Schaffhausen | 15,810 | 38.51 | 25,249 | 61.49 | 637 | 41,696 | 48,787 | 85.47 |
Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 10,612 | 36.73 | 18,278 | 63.27 | 149 | 29,039 | 35,204 | 82.49 |
Appenzell Innerrhoden | 2,397 | 29.05 | 5,854 | 70.95 | 46 | 8,297 | 9,799 | 84.67 |
St. Gallen | 86,247 | 38.44 | 138,103 | 61.56 | 1,862 | 226,212 | 278,676 | 81.17 |
Graubünden | 29,821 | 32.44 | 62,115 | 67.56 | 669 | 92,605 | 122,356 | 75.68 |
Aargau | 101,582 | 39.94 | 152,769 | 60.06 | 1,541 | 255,892 | 335,992 | 76.16 |
Thurgau | 38,329 | 35.96 | 68,265 | 64.04 | 829 | 107,423 | 134,311 | 79.98 |
Ticino | 53,488 | 38.46 | 85,582 | 61.54 | 2,078 | 141,148 | 185,138 | 76.24 |
Vaud | 203,168 | 78.31 | 56,288 | 21.69 | 1,631 | 261,087 | 359,273 | 72.67 |
Valais | 82,997 | 55.84 | 65,636 | 44.16 | 2,457 | 151,090 | 173,216 | 87.23 |
Neuchâtel | 61,466 | 79.96 | 15,408 | 20.04 | 499 | 77,373 | 103,399 | 74.83 |
Geneva | 114,819 | 78.14 | 32,120 | 21.86 | 1,370 | 148,309 | 201,738 | 73.52 |
Jura | 27,298 | 77.15 | 8,087 | 22.85 | 261 | 35,646 | 47,158 | 75.59 |
Source: European Election Database |
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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 during 1939. The first two were held on 22 January on a popular initiative on civil rights and a federal resolution on the restricted use of the urgency clause in the constitution. The third was held on 4 June on a constitutional amendment regarding the funding for government policies on defence and unemployment, and was approved by voters. The fourth was held on 3 December on a federal law on the employment status and insurance for federal civil servants, and was rejected by voters.
Nine referendums were held in Switzerland during 1952. The first was held on 2 March on a federal resolution on changing the licensing requirements for new pubs, and was rejected by 54% of voters. The second was held on 30 March on a federal law on promoting agriculture and the farming community, and was approved by 54% of voters. The third was held on 20 April on a popular initiative on a "commodity sales tax", and was rejected by 81% of voters. The fourth was held on 18 May on a popular initiative "for the finance of armaments and the protection of social achievements", and was rejected by 56% of voters. The fifth was held on 6 July on a federal resolution on the coverage of expenditure on weapons, and was rejected by 58% of voters. The sixth and seventh were both held on 5 October on making an amendment to the federal law on Aged and Bereavement insurance regarding tobacco tax, and on establishing air raid shelters in buildings. The first was approved by 68% of voters, whilst the second was rejected by 85%. The eighth and ninth were both held on 23 November on a limited prolongation of some price controls and a federal resolution on bread supply. Both were approved by voters.
Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1956. The first was held on 4 March on a federal resolution on a limited extension of price controls, and was approved by voters. The second and third were held on 13 May on a popular initiative "on the grant of concessions for water usage" and a federal resolution on government efforts to strengthen the economy of Graubünden, both of which were rejected by voters. The fourth and fifth were held on 30 September on a federal resolution on changing the breadstuffs law and a petition about decisions on expenditure taken by the Federal Assembly, both of which were also rejected.
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977. The first three were held on 13 March on popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties. All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved. The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).
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).
Ten referendums were held in Switzerland in 1984. The first three were held on 26 February on introducing tolls for HGVs (approved), introducing tolls for national routes (approved) and a popular initiative "for a real civilian service based on a proof through demonstration" (rejected). The next two were held on 20 May on popular initiatives "against the abuse of bank client confidentiality and bank power" (rejected) and "against the sellout of the homeland" (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.
Twelve referendums were held in Switzerland in 1985. The first four were held on 10 March on abolishing primary school fees (approved), abolishing the government contribution to healthcare spending (approved), a federal resolution on education fees (rejected) and a popular initiative on extending paid leave (rejected). The next set of four was held on 9 June on the "right to life" popular initiative (rejected), abolishing the cantonal share of profits from banks' stamp duty (approved), a federal resolution on the taxation raised from the sale of spirits (approved), and the abolition of grants for the self-supply of breadstuffs (approved).
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.
Seven referendums were held in Switzerland during 1995. The first four were held on 12 March on a federal resolution on the popular initiative "for an environmentally sound and efficient peasant farming" (rejected), on a resolution on dairy farming (rejected), an amendment to the farming law (rejected) and a federal resolution on spending (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.
Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1997. The first three were held on 8 June on two popular initiatives "EU accession talks in front of the people" and "for a ban on arms exports" and a federal resolution on ending the federal monopoly on producing and selling gunpowder. The two popular initiatives were both rejected, whilst the end of the gunpowder monopoly was approved.
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.
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.
Eleven referendums were held in Switzerland during 2003. The first two were held on 9 February on federal resolutions on reforming the referendum process and changing the cantonal contribution to financing hospital medication. Both were approved. The last nine were all held on 18 May on two federal laws on the Swiss army and civil defence, and seven popular initiatives; "yes to fair rents", "for one Sunday a season free from motor vehicles–a test for four years", "health has to be affordable", "equal rights for the disabled", "electricity without nuclear power", "for prolonging the ban on new nuclear power stations" and "for a sufficient provision of vocational education". Whilst the two laws were approved, all nine initiatives were rejected by voters.