2004 Swiss referendums

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Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004. [1] 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). [1] 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. [2]

The next four were held on 26 September on a federal resolution on naturalisation (rejected), a federal resolution on third-generation foreigners getting Swiss citizenship (rejected), a popular initiative "postal services for all" (rejected) and a federal law on compensating members of the armed forces for loss of earnings (approved). [2] The final set of referendums was held on 28 November on a federal resolution on rebalancing the financial duties of the Federation and the Cantons, a federal resolution on the constitutional reordering of the budget and a federal law on stem cell research, all of which were approved. [2]

Results

MonthQuestionForAgainstBlank/invalidTotalRegistered
voters
TurnoutCantons forCantons against
Votes%Votes%BlankInvalidFullHalfFullHalf
FebruaryCounter-proposals to motorway initiative800,63237.21,351,50062.822,9917,9142,183,0374,788,96145.600206
Amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law755,56135.91,347,45864.164,0158,3912,175,42545.4
Life sentences for dangerous criminals1,198,86756.2934,56943.839,1248,3032,180,86345.519511
MayAmending the Aged and Bereaved insurance law772,77332.11,634,57267.920,74710,3132,438,4054,798,19750.8
Financing of Aged and Bereaved insurance756,55031.41,651,34768.621,03510,3692,439,30150.800206
Federal law on taxation821,47534.11,585,91065.921,90210,3902,439,67750.8
SeptemberFederal resolution on naturalisation1,106,52943.21,452,45356.820,18812,2562,591,4264,814,03553.851155
Citizenship rights of third-generation immigrants1,238,91248.41,322,58751.618,21412,2552,591,96853.861145
Postal services for all1,247,71149.81,259,11450.258,19712,5972,577,67953.591115
Compensation for members of the armed forces1,417,15955.51,138,58044.522,60012,3852,590,72453.8
NovemberFederal and cantonal financial duties1,104,56564.4611,33135.652,7548,0641,776,7144,819,85536.918521
Constitutional reordering of the federal budget1,258,89573.8446,66226.261,9748,2391,775,77036.819610
Stem cell research law1,156,70666.4585,53033.635,0587,9211,785,21537.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

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References

  1. 1 2 Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp. 1944–1945 ISBN   9783832956097
  2. 1 2 3 Nohlen & Stöver, p1945