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Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 31 October 1971.^[1] Although the Social Democratic Party received the most votes, the Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 49 of the 200 seats.^[2] They were the first federal elections in which women were allowed to vote, following a referendum earlier in the year that introduced universal suffrage for federal elections.

Results

National Council

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Social Democratic Party	456,233	22.90	46	–4
	Free Democratic Party	432,259	21.70	49	0
	Christian Democratic People's Party	407,225	20.44	44	–1
	Swiss People's Party	220,487	11.07	23	–1
	Alliance of Independents	152,086	7.63	13	–3
	Republican Movement	84,700	4.25	7	+7
	National Action	63,781	3.20	4	+3
	Swiss Party of Labour	51,341	2.58	5	0
	Liberal Democratic Union	43,710	2.19	6	0
	Evangelical People's Party	42,778	2.15	3	0
	Independent Social-Christian Party	5,946	0.30	0	–
	Autonomous Socialist Party	5,271	0.26	0	New
	Swiss Progressive Organisations	1,820	0.09	0	–
	Other parties	24,679	1.24	0	–
Total		1,992,316	100.00	200	0
Valid votes		1,992,316	98.72
Invalid/blank votes		25,761	1.28
Total votes		2,018,077	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		3,549,429	56.86
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

By constituency

Council of the States

Party		Seats	+/–
	Christian Democratic People's Party	17	–1
	Free Democratic Party	15	+1
	Swiss People's Party	5	–1
	Social Democratic Party	4	+2
	Liberal Democratic Union	2	–1
	Alliance of Independents	1	0
Total		44	0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver