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Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978.[1] 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).[1] 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).[2]

A tenth referendum was held on 24 September on creating a new canton named Jura, which was approved. The final set of referendums were held on 3 December on a resolution on dairy farming (approved), an animal protection law (approved), a federal law on security (rejected) and a federal law on vocational education (approved).[2]

Results

February: Popular initiative on road making

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 696,501 38.7 0 0 0
Against 1,104,292 61.3 19 6 22
Blank votes 41,857 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,107 – – – –
Total 1,842,057 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,821,750 48.2 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

February: Amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance

Choice Votes %
For 1,192,144 65.6
Against 625,566 34.4
Blank votes 26,482 –
Invalid votes 1,947 –
Total 1,846,139 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,821,750 48.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

February: Lowering the retirement age

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 377,017 20.6 0 0 0
Against 1,451,220 79.4 19 6 22
Blank votes 17,191 – – – –
Invalid votes 1,811 – – – –
Total 1,847,239 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,821,750 48.3 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

February: Constitutional amendment on the economic cycle

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,172,130 68.4 19 6 22
Against 542,634 31.6 0 0 0
Blank votes 116,578 – – – –
Invalid votes 3,025 – – – –
Total 1,834,367 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,821,750 48.0 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

May: Law on time

Choice Votes %
For 886,376 47.9
Against 963,862 52.1
Blank votes 28,392 –
Invalid votes 1,324 –
Total 1,879,954 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,835,650 49.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

May: Amendment to the tariff law

Choice Votes %
For 971,908 54.8
Against 801,167 45.2
Blank votes 92,832 –
Invalid votes 2,084 –
Total 1,867,991 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,835,650 48.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

May: Federal law banning abortion

Choice Votes %
For 559,103 31.2
Against 1,233,149 68.8
Blank votes 79,717 –
Invalid votes 2,543 –
Total 1,874,512 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,835,650 48.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

May: Federal law promoting research and universities

Choice Votes %
For 792,458 43.3
Against 1,037,020 56.7
Blank votes 44,837 –
Invalid votes 1,566 –
Total 1,875,881 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,835,650 48.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

May: Popular initiative on 12 car-free Sundays a year

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 678,162 36.3 0 0 0
Against 1,191,204 63.7 19 6 22
Blank votes 13,624 – – – –
Invalid votes 1,367 – – – –
Total 1,884,357 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,835,650 49.1 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Creation of Jura canton

Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,309,841 82.3 19 6 22
Against 281,873 17.7 0 0 0
Blank votes 24,377 – – – –
Invalid votes 2,372 – – – –
Total 1,618,463 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,848,961 42.0 – – –
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Dairy farming

Choice Votes %
For 1,092,586 68.5
Against 502,405 31.5
Blank votes 66,812 –
Invalid votes 2,601 –
Total 1,664,404 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,857,162 43.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Animal protection law

Choice Votes %
For 1,339,252 81.7
Against 300,045 18.3
Blank votes 27,717 –
Invalid votes 1,902 –
Total 1,668,916 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,857,162 43.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Federal law on security

Choice Votes %
For 723,719 44.0
Against 920,312 56.0
Blank votes 23,294 –
Invalid votes 1,914 –
Total 1,669,239 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,857,162 43.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Federal law on vocational education and training

Choice Votes %
For 902,379 56.0
Against 707,746 44.0
Blank votes 52,261 –
Invalid votes 2,360 –
Total 1,664,912 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,857,162 43.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. ^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1925–1926 ISBN 9783832956097
  2. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1926
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