2000 Swiss referendums

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000.[1] The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy (time limits for the handling of popular initiatives)", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected.[2] The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.[3]

The next set of four referendums was held on 24 September on a tax contribution for energy efficiency, as well as three popular initiatives; one for a tax contribution for promoting solar energy (alongside a counterproposal), as well as initiatives "for a regulation of immigration" and "more rights for people thanks to referendums with counter-proposals". Every proposal, including the counter-proposal, was rejected by voters.[3] The final five referendums were held on 26 November on a law on federal employees and four popular initiatives; "for a flexible retirement age for men and women from 62 years on", "economising on military and defence–for more peace and seminal jobs", "for lower hospital expenses" and one against raising the female retirement age. Whilst the federal law was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected.[4]

Results

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Month Question For Against Blank/invalid Total Registered
voters
Turnout Cantons for Cantons against
Votes % Votes % Blank Invalid Full Half Full Half
March Judicial reform 1,610,107 86.4 254,355 13.6 80,905 7,861 1,953,228 4,659,124 41.9 20 6 0 0
Popular initiative on speeding up direct democracy 573,038 30.0 1,336,916 70.0 44,268 7,483 1,961,705 42.1 0 0 20 6
Popular initiative on women in federal authorities 346,314 18.0 1,580,859 82.0 31,355 7,013 1,965,541 42.2 0 0 20 6
Popular initiative on procreation technology 539,795 28.2 1,371,372 71.8 47,594 7,407 1,966,168 42.2 0 0 20 6
Popular initiative on halving motorised road traffic 415,605 21.3 1,532,518 78.7 19,419 6,988 1,974,530 42.4 0 0 20 6
May Sectoral agreements with the EU 1,497,093 67.2 730,980 32.8 16,317 8,894 2,253,284 4,664,482 48.3
September Popular initiative on promoting solar energy[a] 636,848 31.3 1,364,751 67.0 42,981 10,311 2,090,548 4,676,482 44.7 0 0 20 6
Counter-proposal on solar energy[a] 922,481 45.3 1,055,977 51.8 42,981 10,311 2,090,548 44.7 4 1 16 5
Tax contribution for energy efficiency 898,050 44.5 1,119,697 55.5 72,418 9,160 2,099,325 44.9 2 1 18 5
Popular initiative on regulating immigration 754,626 36.2 1,330,224 63.8 23,232 8,971 2,117,053 45.3 0 0 20 6
Popular initiative on referendum with counter-proposal 676,776 34.1 1,308,030 65.9 101,274 9,433 2,095,513 44.8 0 0 20 6
November Popular initiative on retirement age for women 756,337 39.5 1,159,794 60.5 27,527 6,650 1,950,308 4,681,043 41.7 6 0 14 6
Popular initiative on flexible retirement age 885,772 46.0 1,038,985 54.0 21,625 6,384 1,952,766 41.7 7 0 13 6
Popular initiative on economising on military and defence 723,047 37.6 1,198,923 62.4 24,339 6,456 1,952,765 41.7 4 0 16 6
Popular initiative on lower hospital expenses 343,008 17.9 1,574,528 82.1 20,015 6,631 1,950,182 41.7 0 0 20 6
Law on federal employees 1,253,995 66.8 622,381 33.2 60,698 7,148 1,944,222 41.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton

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Swiss EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton
  Yes-votes
  No-votes
Canton Yes No Electorate Votes Valid votes Invalid votes
Vaud 133,336 32,669 366,235 167,828 166,005 1,823
Valais 49,540 26,022 183,539 76,522 75,562 960
Genève 94,597 25,530 209,614 121,564 120,127 1,437
Bern 204,882 94,445 675,852 301,277 299,327 1,950
Freiburg 52,533 17,886 157,996 71,063 70,419 644
Solothurn 53,686 26,909 163,512 81,055 80,595 460
Neuchâtel 42,805 11,117 104,572 54,593 53,922 671
Jura 17,416 5,115 47,923 22,727 22,531 196
Basel-Stadt 47,128 18,050 119,894 65,692 65,178 514
Basel-Landschaft 59,983 24,583 175,700 85,511 84,566 945
Aargau 93,325 56,702 352,338 150,740 150,027 713
Zürich 275,570 118,423 785,473 399,856 393,993 5,863
Glarus 6,643 4,974 24,558 11,674 11,617 57
Schaffhausen 18,645 11,841 48,137 31,807 30,486 1,321
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 11,886 7,262 35,622 19,257 19,148 109
Appenzell Innerrhoden 2,421 2,246 10,032 4,680 4,667 13
St.Gallen 79,227 46,136 284,281 125,947 125,363 584
Graubünden 30,170 21,307 127,989 52,218 51,477 741
Thurgau 36,569 27,411 141,611 65,237 63,980 1,257
Luzern 78,402 46,745 231,627 126,718 125,147 1,571
Uri 6,730 6,149 25,440 13,150 12,879 271
Schwyz 20,865 21,068 85,133 43,179 41,933 1,246
Obwalden 5,839 4,677 22,206 10,631 10,516 115
Nidwalden 8,119 6,415 26,957 14,802 14,534 268
Zug 24,199 10,752 64,691 35,116 34,951 165
Ticino 42,577 56,546 193,550 100,440 99,123 1,317

a In the referendum with a counter-proposal, voters had the option of not answering. A total of 35,657 voters (1.8%) did not answer the solar energy question, whilst 58,798 (2.9%) did not answer the counter-proposal.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1940–1942 ISBN 9783832956097
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, pp1940–1941
  3. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1941
  4. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, pp1941–1942
  5. ^ Switzerland, 24 September 2000: Solar cents (solar-initiative) with counter-proposal Direct Democracy (in German)