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Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 2010; three in March on pension funds, animal protection and a constitutional amendment, one in September on unemployment benefits, and two in November on deporting foreign criminals and introducing a canton tax.
Voters approved Provision 1, an amendment to the constitution on research on humans. [1]
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 1,708,488 | 77.21 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Against | 504,167 | 22.79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 84,893 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,297,548 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.49 | – | – | – |
| Source [2] | |||||
Voters rejected Provision 2, a federal decree on providing enhanced legal protection for animals. [1]
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 671,731 | 29.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,605,141 | 70.50 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 37,618 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,314,490 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.82 | – | – | – |
| Source [3] | |||||
Voters also rejected Provision 3, a federal law which would change the minimum conversion rate for occupational and disability pension plans. [1]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 617,209 | 27.27 |
| Against | 1,646,369 | 72.73 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 47,474 | – |
| Total | 2,311,052 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.75 |
| Source [4] | ||
The referendum held on 26 September had a single topic, namely the revision of unemployment benefits. The centre and right-wing parties were in favour of the revision, which was undertaken to reduce the debt of the ALV, while the left-wing parties were against it. [5]
The referendum was approved by 53.4% of voters, although only the German-speaking cantons (all of them except Basel-Stadt, which was against it with 50.4%) approved it. [6] [7]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 958,913 | 53.42 |
| Against | 836,101 | 46.58 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 24,463 | – |
| Total | 1,819,477 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,077,180 | 35.84 |
| Source [8] | ||
The referendum held on 28 November had two issues:
The SVP's federal popular initiative on deportation was accepted with 52.2% and a majority of cantons in favour, while the counterproposal failed with only 44.5% in favour. Whilst it was not required, the tie-breaker showed a majority of voters against but a majority of cantons for. On 28 February 2016, a follow-up initiative, also launched by the SVP, was rejected by voters. [10] [11] [12] The deportation initiative went in effect on 1 October 2016. [12]
| Question | For | Against | Blank | Invalid votes | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | |||||||||
| Full | Half | Total | Full | Half | Total | |||||||||||
| Proposal | 1,397,923 | 52.26 | 15 | 5 | 17.5 | 1,243,942 | 46.51 | 5 | 1 | 5.5 | 32,762 | 1.23 | 16,172 | 2,690,799 | 5,084,053 | 52.93 |
| Counter-proposal | 1,189,269 | 44.46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,407,830 | 52.64 | 20 | 6 | 23 | 77,528 | 2.90 | 16,172 | 2,690,799 | 5,084,053 | 52.93 |
| Source [13] | ||||||||||||||||
| Tie-breaker | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| Proposal | 1,252,761 | 46.84 | 13 | 4 | 15 |
| Counter-proposal | 1,271,365 | 47.53 | 7 | 2 | 8 |
| Blank | 150,501 | 5.63 | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 16,172 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,690,799 | 100 | 20 | 3 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5'084'053 | 52.93 | – | – | – |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||||
The taxation initiative failed with only 41.5% in favour.
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 1,073,229 | 41.54 | 3 | 1 | 3.5 |
| Against | 1,510,589 | 58.46 | 17 | 5 | 19.5 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 78,292 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,662,110 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,084,053 | 52.36 | – | – | – |
| Source [14] | |||||
In August 2010, family members of a murder victim launched another constitutional amendment initiative to provide for capital punishment in cases of murder combined with sexual violence.[ citation needed ] The initiative quickly found itself at the center of public attention and was roundly rejected by political leaders; it was withdrawn a day after its official publication. [15]
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Cannabis in Switzerland is illegal, though minor possession was decriminalised to a fine in 2012. Several cantons began to allow adults to cultivate and use cannabis in 2012, but this was struck down by federal courts. In 2016, four cities stated they were looking into establishing pilot cannabis clubs. The number of cannabis users in Switzerland is estimated to be around 500,000 among a population of 8 million.
Eight referendums were held in Switzerland during 2009. The first was held on 8 February on extending the freedom of movement for workers from Bulgaria and Romania. The next two were held on 17 May 2009 on introducing biometric passports and the "Future with complementary medicine" proposal. A further two were held on 27 September on increasing VAT and the introduction of public initiatives. The final three were held on 29 November on banning the construction of new minarets, exporting weapons and the use of aviation fuel taxation.
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Several federal referendums were held in Switzerland in 2020, with voting on 9 February, 27 September and 29 November. Voting was also planned for 17 May, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal referendums were held in Switzerland on 7 March, 13 June, 26 September, and 28 November 2021. Swiss referendums take three forms: popular initiatives, which are citizen proposals to create a new law and require 100,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; facultative or optional referendums, which are citizen proposals to approve or reject a piece of existing law and require 50,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; and mandatory referendums, which are required to revise the constitution, join an international organisation or introduce emergency federal legislation for over a year.
Federal referendums were held in Switzerland on 13 February, 15 May and 25 September 2022. Swiss referendums take three forms: popular initiatives, which are citizen proposals to create a new law and require 100,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; facultative or optional referendums, which are citizen proposals to approve or reject a piece of existing law and require 50,000 valid signatures on a petition to get on the ballot; and mandatory referendums, which are required to revise the constitution, join an international organization or introduce emergency federal legislation for over a year.
