1972 Swiss referendums explained
Seven referendums were held in Switzerland in 1972.[1] The first two were held on 5 March on a popular initiative on the promotion of housebuilding (and a counter-proposal) and on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution to protect tenants.[2] The popular initiative was rejected, whilst the constitutional amendment was approved.[2] The third and fourth were held on 4 June on measures to stabilise the federal construction market and protecting currency, both of which were approved.[2] The fifth was held on 24 September on a popular initiative for enhanced arms control and a ban on weapon exports, but was narrowly rejected.[3] The final two were held on 3 December on a popular initiative on introducing a "people's pension" (and a counterproposal) and on an agreement with the European Community. The pensions initiative was rejected, whilst the agreement was approved.[1]
Results
March: Housebuilding
| Choice | Popular initiative | Counterproposal |
|---|
| Popular vote | Cantons | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 360,262 | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 727,629 | 58.5 | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Against | 835,315 | 67.1 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 432,872 | 34.8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| No answer | 48,915 | 3.9 | – | – | – | 83,991 | 6.7 | – | – | – |
| Blank votes | 26,974 | – | – | – | – | 26,974 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 14,427 | – | – | – | – | 14,427 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,285,893 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 1,285,893 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,600,759 | 35.7 | – | – | – | 3,600,759 | 35.7 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Direct Democracy | |
March: Protection of tenants
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 1,057,322 | 85.4 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 180,795 | 14.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 45,638 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,959 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,285,714 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,600,759 | 35.7 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Direct Democracy | |
June: Construction market
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 774,794 | 83.3 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 154,827 | 16.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 33,453 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 781 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 963,855 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,604,099 | 26.7 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
June: Currency protection
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 808,974 | 87.7 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 113,164 | 12.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 40,014 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,035 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 963,187 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,604,099 | 26.7 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
September: Arms control
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 585,046 | 49.7 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Against | 592,833 | 50.3 | 13 | 4 | 15 |
| Blank votes | 18,598 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,762 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,198,239 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,620,937 | 33.1 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
December: People's pension
| Choice | Popular initiative | Counterproposal |
|---|
| Popular vote | Cantons | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total | Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 294,511 | 15.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,393,797 | 74.0 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 1,481,488 | 78.6 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 418,018 | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No answer | 108,776 | 5.8 | – | – | – | 72,960 | 3.9 | – | – | – |
| Blank votes | 20,837 | – | – | – | – | 20,837 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 15,614 | – | – | – | – | 15,614 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,921,226 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 1,921,226 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,628,891 | 52.9 | – | – | – | 3,628,891 | 52.9 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Direct Democracy | |
December: Agreement with the European Community
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 1,344,994 | 72.5 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 509,465 | 27.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 62,125 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 3,569 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,920,153 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,628,891 | 52.9 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=6 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
Notes and References
- [Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D]
- Nohlen & Stöver, p1920
- Nohlen & Stöver, p1921
