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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]

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

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 495,904 29.5 0 0 0
Against 1,182,820 70.5 19 6 22
Blank votes 29,949 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,382 – – – –
Total 1,711,055 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.2 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Limiting naturalisation

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 568,867 33.8 0 0 0
Against 1,116,188 66.2 19 6 22
Blank votes 24,673 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,245 – – – –
Total 1,711,973 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.2 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Changes to treaty referendums

Choice Popular initiative Counterproposal
Popular vote Cantons Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total Votes % Full Half Total
For 351,127 21.9 0 0 0 978,999 61.0 18 5 20.5
Against 1,158,376 72.2 19 6 22 502,825 31.3 1 1 1.5
No answer 94,944 5.9 – – – 122,623 7.6 – – –
Blank votes 69,935 – – – – 69,935 – – – –
Invalid votes 27,519 – – – – 27,519 – – – –
Total 1,701,901 100 19 6 22 1,701,901 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.0 – – – 3,785,693 45.0 – – –
Source: Direct Democracy

June: Changes to sales tax and direct federal tax

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 760,830 40.5 1 0 1
Against 1,117,044 59.5 18 6 21
Blank votes 18,616 – – – –
Invalid votes 1,778 – – – –
Total 1,898,268 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,795,796 50.0 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Tax harmonisation

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,133,652 61.3 16 3 17.5
Against 715,072 38.7 3 3 4.5
Blank votes 43,906 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,025 – – – –
Total 1,894,655 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,795,796 49.9 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Protection of tenants

Choice Popular initiative Counterproposal
Popular vote Cantons Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total Votes % Full Half Total
For 796,825 42.2 3 1 3.5 777,604 41.2 1 2 2
Against 1,043,798 55.3 16 5 18.5 944,806 50.1 18 4 20
No answer 45,811 2.4 – – – 164,024 8.7 – – –
Blank votes 58,757 – – – – 58,757 – – – –
Invalid votes 20,990 – – – – 20,990 – – – –
Total 1,966,181 100 19 6 22 1,966,181 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6 – – – 3,811,426 51.6 – – –
Source: Direct Democracy

September: Air pollution

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 740,842 39.0 1 1 1.5
Against 1,157,368 61.0 18 5 20.5
Blank votes 68,519 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,772 – – – –
Total 1,969,501 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.7 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Increasing the number of signatures required for optional referendums

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,095,631 57.8 15 6 18
Against 798,416 42.2 4 0 4
Blank votes 69,730 – – – –
Invalid votes 3,328 – – – –
Total 1,967,555 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Increasing the number of signatures required for popular initiatives

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,068,157 56.7 16 6 19
Against 815,488 43.3 3 0 3
Blank votes 81,379 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,999 – – – –
Total 1,968,023 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Abortion

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 929,325 48.3 6 2 7
Against 994,930 51.7 13 4 15
Blank votes 51,680 – – – –
Invalid votes 3,228 – – – –
Total 1,979,163 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.9 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Wealth tax

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 637,994 44.4 2 1 2.5
Against 800,138 55.6 17 5 19.5
Blank votes 22,090 – – – –
Invalid votes 1,264 – – – –
Total 1,461,486 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.3 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Political rights

Choice Votes %
For 809,862 59.4
Against 552,962 40.6
Blank votes 90,008 –
Invalid votes 1,688 –
Total 1,454,520 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Civilian service

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 533,733 37.6 0 0 0
Against 885,868 62.4 19 6 22
Blank votes 40,069 – – – –
Invalid votes 1,503 – – – –
Total 1,461,173 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.3 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Balancing the federal budget

Choice Votes %
For 869,266 62.4
Against 523,125 37.6
Blank votes 62,749 –
Invalid votes 1,526 –
Total 1,456,666 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

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