1884 Swiss federal election explained

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 26 October 1884. The Radical Left retained its majority in the National Council.[1]

Electoral system

The 145 members of the National Council were elected in 49 single- and multi-member constituencies using a three-round system. Candidates had to receive a majority in the first or second round to be elected; if it went to a third round, only a plurality was required. Voters could cast as many votes as there were seats in their constituency. There was one seat for every 20,000 citizens, with seats allocated to cantons in proportion to their population.[2]

Results

National Council

Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 95.9% and lowest in Neuchâtel at 25.1%.

By constituency

ConstituencySeatsPartySeats
won
Elected members
Zürich 15Liberal Centre4
Democratic Group1Arnold Syfrig
Zürich 24Liberal Centre3
Democratic Group1Johann Jakob Keller
Zürich 34Democratic Group4
Zürich 43Democratic Group3
Bern 55Radical Left5
Bern 65Radical Left5
Bern 74Radical Left4
Bern 84Radical Left4
Bern 94Radical Left4
Bern 105Radical Left5
Lucerne 112Radical Left2
Lucerne 121Catholic Right1Josef Zemp
Lucerne 132Catholic Right2
Lucerne 142Catholic Right2
Uri 151Catholic Right1Josef Arnold
Schwyz 163Catholic Right3
Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Nicolaus Hermann
Nidwalden 181Catholic Right1Robert Durrer
Glarus 192Liberal Centre1Charles Mercier
Democratic Group1Kaspar Schindler
Zug 201Catholic Right1Theodor Keiser
Fribourg 212Catholic Right2
Fribourg 222Catholic Right2
Fribourg 232Catholic Right2
Solothurn 244Radical Left4
Basel-Stadt 253Radical Left2
Liberal Centre1Johann Rudolf Geigy-Merian
Basel-Landschaft 263Radical Left3
Schaffhausen 272Radical Left1Robert Grieshaber
Democratic Group1Wilhelm Joos
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Liberal Centre1
Radical Left1Johann Conrad Sonderegger
Appenzell Innerhoden 291Liberal Centre1Karl Justin Sonderegger
St. Gallen 304Democratic Group2
Catholic Right1Johann Gebhard Lutz
Evangelical Right1Christoph Tobler
St. Gallen 313Catholic Right1Wilhelm Good
Radical Left1Gallus August Suter
Democratic Group1Carl Theodor Curti
St. Gallen 323Catholic Right3
Grisons 332Liberal Centre1Peter Theophil Bühler
Radical Left1Luzius Raschein
Grisons 342Catholic Right2
Grisons 351Radical Left1Andrea Bezzola
Aargau 363Radical Left3
Aargau 374Radical Left2
Liberal Centre2
Aargau 383Liberal Centre2
Catholic Right1Arnold Münch
Thurgau 395Radical Left4
Liberal Centre1Jakob Huldreich Bachmann
Ticino 402Radical Left2
Ticino 415Catholic Right5
Vaud 425Radical Left5
Vaud 434Radical Left4
Vaud 443Radical Left3
Valais 452Catholic Right2
Valais 461Catholic Right1Maurice Evéquoz
Valais 472Catholic Right2
Neuchâtel 485Radical Left5
Geneva 495Radical Left3
Liberal Centre2
Source: Gruner[3]

Council of States

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/themen/17/22/lexi.Document.137139.xls Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation
  2. [Dieter Nohlen]
  3. Book: Gruner, Erich. Die Wahlen in den Schweizerischen Nationalrat 1848–1919. 3.