This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Switzerland
Constitution
Federal Council
Federal Assembly
Elections
Elections
Referendums
Federal courts
Foreign relations
Cantons
Municipalities
(Full list of Municipalities)
flag Switzerland portal

Nine referendums were held in Switzerland during 1996.[1] The first five were held on 10 March on revising article 116 of the Swiss Federal Constitution regarding language, abolishing the cantons' responsibilities for providing army equipment, abolishing the federal requirement to purchase distilling equipment, abolishing federal financing of parking areas at rail stations, and whether municipality of Vellerat (then part of the canton of Bern) should become part of the canton of Jura. All proposals except the one regarding army equipment were approved.[1]

The next two referendums were held on 9 June on a law on governmental and administrative organisation and a counter-proposal to the popular initiative "peasants and consumers–for a nature-oriented farming". The counter-proposal was approved, whilst the new law was rejected.[1] The final two referendums were held on 1 December on a popular initiative "against illegal immigration" and an amendment to the federal law on labour in trade and industry. Both were rejected by voters.[1]

Results

Month Question For Against Blank/invalid Total Registered
voters 		Turnout Cantons for Cantons against
Votes % Votes % Blank Invalid Full Half Full Half
March Constitutional amendment on languages 1,052,052 76.2 329,153 23.8 41,583 4,494 1,427,282 4,599,427 31.0 20 6 0 0
Moving the municipality of Vellerat from the canton of Bern to the canton of Jura 1,250,728 91.6 114,105 8.4 55,758 4,948 1,425,539 31.0 20 6 0 0
Abolishing the cantonal responsibility for army equipment 601,613 43.7 775,087 56.3 45,376 4,492 1,426,568 31.0 2 2 18 4
Abolishing the federal requirement on spirits 1,090,783 80.8 259,215 19.2 67,318 4,949 1,422,265 30.9 20 6 0 0
Abolishing federal financing of rail station car parks 741,219 53.9 632,792 46.1 46,519 4,519 1,425,049 31.0 11 6 9 0
June Counter-proposal to popular initiative on farming 1,086,534 77.6 313,874 22.4 41,150 4,408 1,445,966 4,602,577 31.4 20 6 0 0
Law on government and administrative organisation 544,630 39.4 837,990 60.6 55,124 4,678 1,442,422 31.3
December Popular initiative "against illegal immigration" 982,867 46.3 1138,301 53.7 28,657 6,281 2,156,106 4,612,266 46.7 10 2 10 4
Amendment to the labour law 697,874 33.0 1,418,961 67.0 32,146 5,952 2,154,933 46.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. ^ a b c d Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1938 ISBN 9783832956097
Categories