Votes

Changing the Constitution
In Switzerland, every amendment to the Constitution must be put to a vote (mandatory referendum) – whether the proposed amendment was passed by Parliament or put forward by popular initiative. For a new constitutional article to come into force, the consent of a majority of the People (popular majority) and the cantons (majority of the cantons) is needed ( double majority). A popular vote is also ‘mandatory’ for Switzerland to join an organisation for collective security or a supranational community (e.g. the UN or the EU). Switzerland can only join such an organisation or community if a double majority is achieved.

Swiss citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote and may cast their ballots in federal votes.


Putting a stop to a new law
If Parliament passes a new law or approves an international treaty, those eligible to vote may request a referendum against it (optional referendum). If they are successful, a referendum is held in which the law or treaty in question is put to a vote. A majority of voters must approve the law or referendum for it to come into force (simple majority).


Information

• Explanatory pamphlets are sent by post to eligible voters

• ‘VoteInfo’ app

• www.admin.ch

• www.ch.ch/democracy

• Explanatory videos

Popular initiative
Anyone who has the right to vote in Switzerland can launch or sign a popular initiative to amend the Constitution. For a vote to be held on a popular initiative, 100,000 valid signaturesmust be collected within a period of 18 months.

Popular initiatives were introduced at federal level in 1891. 234 have been voted on since then. 26 have been accepted.

As of 31 December 2024, 13 initiatives were at the signature-gathering stage, 18 were pending before the Federal Council or Parliament and 1 was ready to be put to a vote.

Optional referendum
To bring a decision made by Parliament to a vote (e.g. to stop a new law from passing), anyone who has the right to vote can launch an optional referendum. To do so, they must collect 50,000 valid signatures within 100 days. An optional referendum is also held upon request by eight cantons (‘referendum requested by the cantons’).

The optional referendum was introduced in 1874. 216 have been held since then; 91 of the proposals were rejected by voters.

As of 31 December 2024, the referendum period was running for 18 federal acts and decrees.

Effects of initiatives and referendums
Even if most initiatives fail and only very few laws are stopped by a referendum, these two instruments can still have a major impact:
- They lead to public discussions on the topics they involve.
- They can influence legislation: groups that are likely to launch a referendum are taken into consideration in the drafting of new laws.
- The Federal Council and Parliament will sometimes make counter-proposals to initiatives, to address the initiative’s concerns in a different way.

Votes are scheduled to take place on the following Sundays in 2024: 9 February, 18 May, 28 September, 30 November

3 March

Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment

Yes 58.3%

Pensions Initiative

No 74.8%

9 June

Premium Relief Initiative

No 55.5%

Debt Brake Initiative

No 62.8%

Federal Popular initiative ‘For freedom and physical integrity’

No 73.7%

Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources

Yes 68.7%

22 September

Biodiversity Initiative

No 63%

Occupational Pension Reform

No 67.1%

24 November

Federal Decree on the 2023 Expansion Phase of the National Highways

No 52.7%

Amendment to the Code of Obligations (Tenancy law: Subletting)

No 51.6%

Amendment to the Code of Obligations (Tenancy law: Termination for personal use)

No 53.8%

Amendment to the Federal Act on Health Insurance (Uniform financing of benefits)

Yes 53.3%