Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1891.[1] The first was held on 15 March on a federal law on federal officials who had become unemployable due to disability, and was rejected by 79.4% of voters.[1] The second was held on 5 July on a constitutional amendment, and was approved by 60.3% of voters.[1] Two referendums were held on 18 October, one on revising article 39 of the federal constitution and one on a federal law on Swiss tariffs; both were approved.[1] The last was held on 6 December on the question of whether the federal government should purchase the Swiss Central Railway, but was rejected by 68.9% of voters.[1]
The two constitutional referendums were mandatory referendums,[1] which required both a majority of voters and cantons.[2] The other three were optional referendums,[1] which meant that only a majority of the public vote was required for the proposals to be approved.[2]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 91,851 | 20.6 |
| Against | 353,977 | 79.4 |
| Blank votes | 2,984 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,516 | – |
| Total | 451,328 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 657,779 | 68.6 |
| align=left colspan=3 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | |
| For | 183,029 | 60.3 | 16 | 4 | 18 |
| Against | 120,599 | 39.7 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Blank votes | 15,398 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,330 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 320,356 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 641,692 | 49.9 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||||
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | |
| For | 231,578 | 59.3 | 12 | 4 | 14 |
| Against | 158,615 | 40.7 | 7 | 2 | 8 |
| Blank votes | 13,400 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,890 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 405,483 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 654,372 | 62.0 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||||
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 220,004 | 58.1 |
| Against | 158,934 | 41.9 |
| Blank votes | 22,034 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,840 | – |
| Total | 402,812 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 654,372 | 61.6 |
| align=left colspan=3 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 130,729 | 31.3 |
| Against | 289,406 | 68.9 |
| Blank votes | – | |
| Invalid votes | – | |
| Total | 420,135 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 653,792 | |
| align=left colspan=3 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver |