1887 Swiss federal election explained

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 30 October 1887. The Radical Left narrowly 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

Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 95.5% and lowest in Zug at 18.5%.

By constituency

ConstituencySeatsPartySeats
won
Elected members
Zürich 15Liberal Centre3
Democratic Group2
Zürich 24Liberal Centre3
Democratic Group1Johann Jakob Keller
Zürich 34Democratic Group4
Zürich 43Democratic Group3
Bern 55Radical Left5
Bern 65Radical Left5
Bern 74Radical Left4
Bern 84Bern People's Party3
Radical Left1Johann Friedrich Gugelmann
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 192Democratic Group1Kaspar Schindler
Liberal Centre1Rudolf Gallati
Zug 201Catholic Right1Alois Müller
Fribourg 212Catholic Right1Georges Python
Liberal CentreGeorges Cressier
Fribourg 222Catholic Right2
Fribourg 232Catholic Right2
Solothurn 244Radical Left3
Liberal Centre1Bernard Hammer
Basel-Stadt 253Radical Left3
Basel-Landschaft 263Radical Left3
Schaffhausen 272Democratic Group1Wilhelm Joos
Radical Left1Robert Grieshaber
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 374Liberal Centre3
Radical Left1Hans Riniker
Aargau 383Catholic Right2
Liberal Centre1Emil Welti
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 Right1Joseph Favre
Valais 472Radical Left1Émile Gaillard
Liberal Centre1Maurice Chappelet
Neuchâtel 485Radical Left5
Geneva 495Radical Left3
Liberal Centre2
Source: Gruner[3]

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.