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 [ ]
March: Foreign infiltration [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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
September: Increasing the number of signatures required for popular initiatives [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
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 [ ]
^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook , pp1924–1925 ISBN 9783832956097
^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1924
^ Nohlen & Stöver, p1925