Thirteen national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2016.
On 28 February 2016, referendums were held on four initiatives:[1]
The government recommended the rejection of all three popular initiatives, but recommended approval of the amendments to the federal law on road transit in the Alpine region. The vote results followed these recommendations, with higher voter turnout than usual.
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Result | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Full | Half | Full | Half | |||||||
| For the couple and the family | 1,609,152 | 49.2 | 1,664,224 | 50.8 | 80,643 | 3,354,019 | 5,302,797 | 63.2 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Expulsion of foreign criminals | 1,375,098 | 41.1 | 1,966,965 | 58.9 | 37,504 | 3,379,567 | 63.7 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 3 | |||
| No speculation on food | 1,287,786 | 40.1 | 1,925,937 | 59.9 | 122,455 | 3,336,178 | 62.9 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 5 | |||
| 1,883,859 | 57.0 | 1,420,390 | 43.0 | 61,319 | 3,365,568 | 63.5 | ||||||||
| Source: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3, 4 | ||||||||||||||
Five propositions were on the ballot for the 5 June 2016 referendum:[9]
All three popular initiatives were rejected, whilst the two legislative amendments were approved. The voters thus again followed the recommendations of the government.
The law establishes that all embryos conceived in a test tube can be examined using all the genetic techniques available, and then selected. In this way, embryos with Down syndrome (trisomy 21) can be destroyed before implantation.
The new law provided free legal advice and representation for all asylum seekers, and speeding-up procedures for granting or refusing asylum. It also established new federal reception centers run by the federal government and staffed by federal officials where most asylum seekers would be accommodated.
The discussion about basic income in Switzerland began in the 1980s, initially amongst academics such as sociologists who saw the potential to alleviate poverty better than the current system. But there was no major public debate in the 1980s nor the 1990s. In the early 2000s, however, things were slowly changing due to a spill-over from the German debate. Two basic income organizations were formed, "Initiative Grundeinkommen" and BIEN-Switzerland, and one ATTAC-group also became advocates. These organizations had some success, including some articles in national newspapers.[15] The petition calling for a referendum on basic income as a constitutional right was started in April 2012. After six months 42,000 people had signed, and by April 2013 there were approximately 70,000 signatures.[16] By October 2013 more than 130,000 citizens had signed, meaning a referendum on the issue had to be held. Publicity included a truck filled with eight million coins emptying the money in front of the Federal Palace in Bern. Even though the initiative's official text submitted to the vote did not specify any level, the campaigners proposed 2,500 Swiss francs for adults (about US$1,650 at PPP in 2014) and 625 francs for children per month.[17] [18] [19]
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Full | Half | Full | Half | ||||||
| Basic income | 568,660 | 23.1 | 1,897,528 | 76.9 | 28,660 | 2,494,848 | 5,313,442 | 46.95 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | |
| For fair transport financing | 709,974 | 29.2 | 1,719,661 | 70.8 | 55,749 | 2,485,384 | 46.78 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||
| For public services | 784,303 | 32.4 | 1,637,707 | 67.6 | 62,997 | 2,485,007 | 46.77 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||
| Amendments to the medically assisted reproduction law | 1,490,417 | 62.4 | 897,318 | 37.6 | 92,610 | 2,480,345 | 46.68 | ||||||
| Amendments to the federal asylum law | 1,616,597 | 66.8 | 804,086 | 33.2 | 65,349 | 2,486,032 | 46.79 | ||||||
| Source: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |||||||||||||
Three referendums were held on 25 September 2016; a popular initiative for a green economy (launched by the Green Party of Switzerland), a popular initiative concerning the retirement system and a referendum on the federal law on intelligence.[20] Both of the popular initiatives were rejected, whilst the federal intelligence law was approved.
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Full | Half | Full | Half | ||||||
| Green economy | 819,770 | 36.4 | 1,430,273 | 63.6 | 41,427 | 2,291,470 | 5,329,183 | 43.0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6 | |
| Retirement system | 921,375 | 40.6 | 1,348,032 | 59.4 | 29,085 | 2,298,492 | 43.1 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 6 | ||
| Federal intelligence law | 1,459,068 | 65.5 | 768,065 | 34.5 | 61,416 | 2,288,549 | 42.9 | ||||||
| Source: Government of Switzerland 1, 2, 3 | |||||||||||||
See also: Anti-nuclear movement in Switzerland and Nuclear power in Switzerland.
The 27 November referendum had only one question, a federal popular initiative "for the programmed phase-out of nuclear energy" (against nuclear power plants).[21] The initiative dated from 2012, about one year after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. It was rejected by voters.[22]
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Full | Half | Full | Half | ||||||
| Nuclear energy phase-out | 1,099,409 | 45.8 | 1,300,860 | 54.2 | 21,729 | 2,421,998 | 5,336,711 | 45.4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 4 | |
| Source: Government of Switzerland | |||||||||||||