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Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004.[1] The first three were held on 8 February on a counter proposal to the popular initiative "for safe and efficient motorways" (rejected), an amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law (rejected) and a popular initiative "life-long custody for non-curable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent criminals" (approved).[1] The second set of three was held on 16 May on a revision of the federal law on Aged and Bereaved insurance, a federal resolution on financing the Aged and Bereaved insurance, and a federal law that would affect taxation for married couples, families, private housing and stamp duty, all of which were rejected.[2]

The next four were held on 26 September on a federal resolution on naturalisation (rejected), a federal resolution on third-generation foreigners getting Swiss citizenship (rejected), a popular initiative "postal services for all" (rejected) and a federal law on compensating members of the armed forces for loss of earnings (approved).[2] The final set of referendums was held on 28 November on a federal resolution on rebalancing the financial duties of the Federation and the Cantons, a federal resolution on the constitutional reordering of the budget and a federal law on stem cell research, all of which were approved.[2]

Results

Month Question For Against Blank/invalid Total Registered
voters 		Turnout Cantons for Cantons against
Votes % Votes % Blank Invalid Full Half Full Half
February Counter-proposals to motorway initiative 800,632 37.2 1,351,500 62.8 22,991 7,914 2,183,037 4,788,961 45.6 0 0 20 6
Amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law 755,561 35.9 1,347,458 64.1 64,015 8,391 2,175,425 45.4
Life sentences for dangerous criminals 1,198,867 56.2 934,569 43.8 39,124 8,303 2,180,863 45.5 19 5 1 1
May Amending the Aged and Bereaved insurance law 772,773 32.1 1,634,572 67.9 20,747 10,313 2,438,405 4,798,197 50.8
Financing of Aged and Bereaved insurance 756,550 31.4 1,651,347 68.6 21,035 10,369 2,439,301 50.8 0 0 20 6
Federal law on taxation 821,475 34.1 1,585,910 65.9 21,902 10,390 2,439,677 50.8
September Federal resolution on naturalisation 1,106,529 43.2 1,452,453 56.8 20,188 12,256 2,591,426 4,814,035 53.8 5 1 15 5
Citizenship rights of third-generation immigrants 1,238,912 48.4 1,322,587 51.6 18,214 12,255 2,591,968 53.8 6 1 14 5
Postal services for all 1,247,711 49.8 1,259,114 50.2 58,197 12,597 2,577,679 53.5 9 1 11 5
Compensation for members of the armed forces 1,417,159 55.5 1,138,580 44.5 22,600 12,385 2,590,724 53.8
November Federal and cantonal financial duties 1,104,565 64.4 611,331 35.6 52,754 8,064 1,776,714 4,819,855 36.9 18 5 2 1
Constitutional reordering of the federal budget 1,258,895 73.8 446,662 26.2 61,974 8,239 1,775,770 36.8 19 6 1 0
Stem cell research law 1,156,706 66.4 585,530 33.6 35,058 7,921 1,785,215 37.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. ^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp. 1944–1945 ISBN 9783832956097
  2. ^ a b c Nohlen & Stöver, p1945
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