Swiss federal election, 1851

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The 49 electoral districts

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 26 October 1851. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council, winning 78 of the 120 seats.^[1]

Electoral system

The elections were held under the Federal law concerning the elections to the National Council, which had been passed on 21 December 1850. The 120 members of the National Council were elected in 49 single- and multi-member constituencies; there was one seat for every 20,000 citizens, with seats allocated to cantons in proportion to their population.^[2] The 1850 law reduced the number of constituencies from 52, but increased the number of seats from 111; Aargau, Glarus, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Vaud and Zürich gained one seat each, whilst Bern gained three seats. The law also set the election date as the last Sunday in October and introduced a three-year term.

The elections were held using a three-round system; candidates had to receive a majority in the first or second round to be elected; if it went to a third round, only a plurality was required. Voters could cast as many votes as there were seats in their constituency.^[2] In six cantons (Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri), National Council members were elected by the Landsgemeinde.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Radical Left		53.1	78	–1
Catholic Right		15.5	16	+6
Liberal Centre		13.6	16	+5
Evangelical Right		13.5	7	+2
Democratic Left		4.1	3	–3
Independents		0.2	0	New
Total	276,997	100	120	+9
Registered voters/turnout	517,020	53.6	–	–
Source: BFS

References

↑ Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation BFS
1 2 Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1886 ISBN 9783832956097

Elections and referendums in Switzerland

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