1977 Swiss referendums

Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977.[1] The first three were held on 13 March on popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties (which also had a counter-proposal). All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved.[2] The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).[2]

The next set of referendums was held on 25 September on popular initiatives on protecting tenants (rejected, with a counter-proposal also rejected), air pollution caused by motor vehicles (rejected), and a law allowing abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy (rejected), as well as on two government proposals to raise the number of signatures required for optional referendums (approved) and popular initiatives (approved).[1]

The final four referendums were held on 4 December on a popular initiative on a wealth tax (rejected) and three federal law on political rights (approved), creating a civilian alternative to military service (rejected) and on balancing the federal budget (approved).[3]

Results

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March: Foreign infiltration

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 495,904 29.5 0 0 0
Against 1,182,820 70.5 19 6 22
Blank votes 29,949
Invalid votes 2,382
Total 1,711,055 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Limiting naturalisation

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 568,867 33.8 0 0 0
Against 1,116,188 66.2 19 6 22
Blank votes 24,673
Invalid votes 2,245
Total 1,711,973 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

March: Changes to treaty referendums

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Choice Popular initiative Counterproposal
Popular vote Cantons Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total Votes % Full Half Total
For 351,127 21.9 0 0 0 978,999 61.0 18 5 20.5
Against 1,158,376 72.2 19 6 22 502,825 31.3 1 1 1.5
No answer 94,944 5.9 122,623 7.6
Blank votes 69,935 69,935
Invalid votes 27,519 27,519
Total 1,701,901 100 19 6 22 1,701,901 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,785,693 45.0 3,785,693 45.0
Source: Direct Democracy

June: Changes to sales tax and direct federal tax

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 760,830 40.5 1 0 1
Against 1,117,044 59.5 18 6 21
Blank votes 18,616
Invalid votes 1,778
Total 1,898,268 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,795,796 50.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Tax harmonisation

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,133,652 61.3 16 3 17.5
Against 715,072 38.7 3 3 4.5
Blank votes 43,906
Invalid votes 2,025
Total 1,894,655 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,795,796 49.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Protection of tenants

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Choice Popular initiative Counterproposal
Popular vote Cantons Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total Votes % Full Half Total
For 796,825 42.2 3 1 3.5 777,604 41.2 1 2 2
Against 1,043,798 55.3 16 5 18.5 944,806 50.1 18 4 20
No answer 45,811 2.4 164,024 8.7
Blank votes 58,757 58,757
Invalid votes 20,990 20,990
Total 1,966,181 100 19 6 22 1,966,181 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6 3,811,426 51.6
Source: Direct Democracy

September: Air pollution

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 740,842 39.0 1 1 1.5
Against 1,157,368 61.0 18 5 20.5
Blank votes 68,519
Invalid votes 2,772
Total 1,969,501 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Increasing the number of signatures required for optional referendums

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,095,631 57.8 15 6 18
Against 798,416 42.2 4 0 4
Blank votes 69,730
Invalid votes 3,328
Total 1,967,555 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 1,068,157 56.7 16 6 19
Against 815,488 43.3 3 0 3
Blank votes 81,379
Invalid votes 2,999
Total 1,968,023 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Abortion

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 929,325 48.3 6 2 7
Against 994,930 51.7 13 4 15
Blank votes 51,680
Invalid votes 3,228
Total 1,979,163 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,811,426 51.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Wealth tax

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 637,994 44.4 2 1 2.5
Against 800,138 55.6 17 5 19.5
Blank votes 22,090
Invalid votes 1,264
Total 1,461,486 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Political rights

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Choice Votes %
For 809,862 59.4
Against 552,962 40.6
Blank votes 90,008
Invalid votes 1,688
Total 1,454,520 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Civilian service

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Choice Popular vote Cantons
Votes % Full Half Total
For 533,733 37.6 0 0 0
Against 885,868 62.4 19 6 22
Blank votes 40,069
Invalid votes 1,503
Total 1,461,173 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Balancing the federal budget

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Choice Votes %
For 869,266 62.4
Against 523,125 37.6
Blank votes 62,749
Invalid votes 1,526
Total 1,456,666 100
Registered voters/turnout 3,816,824 38.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

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  1. ^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1924–1925 ISBN 9783832956097
  2. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1924
  3. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p1925