1919 Swiss federal election explained
| Country: | Switzerland |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1917 |
| Next Election: | 1922 |
| Election Date: | 26 October 1919 |
| Module: | | Embed: | yes | | Election Name: | National Council | | Party1: | Free Democratic Party of Switzerland | | Last Election1: | 103 | | Seats1: | 60 | | Percentage1: | 28.85 | | Party2: | Social Democratic Party of Switzerland | | Leader2: | Gustav Müller | | Last Election2: | 20 | | Seats2: | 41 | | Percentage2: | 23.46 | | Party3: | Swiss Conservative People's Party | | Leader3: | Joseph Räber | | Last Election3: | 42 | | Seats3: | 41 | | Percentage3: | 20.97 | | Party4: | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | | Leader4: | Rudolf Minger | | Last Election4: | 4 | | Seats4: | 30 | | Percentage4: | 15.33 | | Party5: | Liberal Democratic Party of Switzerland | | Last Election5: | 12 | | Seats5: | 9 | | Percentage5: | 3.81 | | Party6: | Grütli Union | | Last Election6: | New | | Seats6: | 2 | | Percentage6: | 2.75 | | Party7: | Democratic Party (Switzerland) | | Last Election7: | 7 | | Seats7: | 4 | | Percentage7: | 1.96 | | Party8: | Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland | | Last Election8: | 0 | | Seats8: | 1 | | Percentage8: | 0.81 | | Party9: | Young Radicals | | Last Election9: | 0 | | Seats9: | 1 | | Module: | | Embed: | yes | | Election Name: | Council of States | | Seats For Election: | All 44 seats in the Council of States | | Noleader: | yes | | Nopercentage: | yes | | First Election: | yes | | Party1: | Free Democratic Party of Switzerland | | Seats1: | 23 | | Party2: | Swiss Conservative People's Party | | Seats2: | 17 | | Party3: | Liberal Democratic Party of Switzerland | | Seats3: | 2 | | Party4: | Democratic Party (Switzerland) | | Seats4: | 1 | | Party5: | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | | Seats5: | 1 |
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Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 26 October 1919.[1] The Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 60 of the 189 seats.[2]
Electoral system
This was the first election after proportional representation was adopted.
The country was divided into 25 districts - 20 multiple-member districts, with as many as 32 seats, and five were single-member districts. In each, seats were allocated based on parties' vote tallies.
Every multi-member district saw multiple parties take seats. In some districts, no party took more than one seat.
Unlike the previous Plurality block voting system, each voter now had just one vote.
Switzerland used a system of apparentment, allowing parties to combine votes in the same district.
Results
National Council
By constituency
Council of States
In several cantons, the members of the Council of States were chosen by the cantonal parliaments.[3]
By canton
Notes and References
- [Dieter Nohlen]
- Nohlen & Stöver, p1953
- Nohlen & Stöver, p1956
