1978 Swiss referendums explained
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978.[1] The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved).[1] The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).[2]
A tenth referendum was held on 24 September on creating a new canton named Jura, which was approved. The final set of referendums were held on 3 December on a resolution on dairy farming (approved), an animal protection law (approved), a federal law on security (rejected) and a federal law on vocational education (approved).[2]
Results
February: Popular initiative on road making
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 696,501 | 38.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,104,292 | 61.3 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Blank votes | 41,857 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,107 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,842,057 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,821,750 | 48.2 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
February: Amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 1,192,144 | 65.6 |
| Against | 625,566 | 34.4 |
| Blank votes | 26,482 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,947 | – |
| Total | 1,846,139 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,821,750 | 48.3 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
February: Lowering the retirement age
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 377,017 | 20.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,451,220 | 79.4 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Blank votes | 17,191 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,811 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,847,239 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,821,750 | 48.3 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
February: Constitutional amendment on the economic cycle
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 1,172,130 | 68.4 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 542,634 | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 116,578 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 3,025 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,834,367 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,821,750 | 48.0 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
May: Law on time
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 886,376 | 47.9 |
| Against | 963,862 | 52.1 |
| Blank votes | 28,392 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,324 | – |
| Total | 1,879,954 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,835,650 | 49.0 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
May: Amendment to the tariff law
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 971,908 | 54.8 |
| Against | 801,167 | 45.2 |
| Blank votes | 92,832 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,084 | – |
| Total | 1,867,991 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,835,650 | 48.7 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
May: Federal law banning abortion
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 559,103 | 31.2 |
| Against | 1,233,149 | 68.8 |
| Blank votes | 79,717 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,543 | – |
| Total | 1,874,512 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,835,650 | 48.9 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
May: Federal law promoting research and universities
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 792,458 | 43.3 |
| Against | 1,037,020 | 56.7 |
| Blank votes | 44,837 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,566 | – |
| Total | 1,875,881 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,835,650 | 48.9 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
May: Popular initiative on 12 car-free Sundays a year
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 678,162 | 36.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,191,204 | 63.7 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Blank votes | 13,624 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,367 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,884,357 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,835,650 | 49.1 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
September: Creation of Jura canton
| Choice | Popular vote | Cantons |
|---|
| Votes | % | Full | Half | Total |
|---|
| For | 1,309,841 | 82.3 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 281,873 | 17.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank votes | 24,377 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,372 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,618,463 | 100 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,848,961 | 42.0 | – | – | – |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
December: Dairy farming
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 1,092,586 | 68.5 |
| Against | 502,405 | 31.5 |
| Blank votes | 66,812 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,601 | – |
| Total | 1,664,404 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,857,162 | 43.2 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
December: Animal protection law
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 1,339,252 | 81.7 |
| Against | 300,045 | 18.3 |
| Blank votes | 27,717 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,902 | – |
| Total | 1,668,916 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,857,162 | 43.3 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
December: Federal law on security
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 723,719 | 44.0 |
| Against | 920,312 | 56.0 |
| Blank votes | 23,294 | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,914 | – |
| Total | 1,669,239 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,857,162 | 43.3 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
December: Federal law on vocational education and training
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|
| For | 902,379 | 56.0 |
| Against | 707,746 | 44.0 |
| Blank votes | 52,261 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,360 | – |
| Total | 1,664,912 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,857,162 | 43.2 |
| align=left colspan=11 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |
Notes and References
- [Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D]
- Nohlen & Stöver, p1926
