Swiss referendums, 1985
Twelve referendums were held in Switzerland in 1985.[1] The first four were held on 10 March on abolishing primary school fees (approved), abolishing the government contribution to healthcare spending (approved), a federal resolution on education fees (rejected) and a popular initiative on extending paid leave (rejected).[1] The next set of four was held on 9 June on the "right to life" popular initiative (rejected), abolishing the cantonal share of profits from banks' stamp duty (approved), a federal resolution on the taxation raised from the sale of spirits (approved), and the abolition of grants for the self-supply of breadstuffs (approved).[2]
A further three referendums were held on 22 September on a popular initiative to co-ordinate the start of the school year (approved), a federal resolution on giving small and medium enterprises an advantage in cases on innovations (rejected), and amendments to the Swiss Civil Code (approved).[2] The final referendum was held on 1 December on a popular initiative to ban vivisection, which was rejected.[2]
Results
March: Abolition of primary school fees
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 802,882 | 58.5 | 15 | 6 | 18 |
| Against | 570,221 | 41.5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Blank votes | 46,403 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,932 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,421,438 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,134,052 | 34.4 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
March: Healthcare
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 726,781 | 53.0 | 10 | 6 | 13 |
| Against | 644,649 | 47.0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Blank votes | 48,766 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,951 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,422,147 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,134,052 | 34.4 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
March: Education fees
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 651,854 | 47.6 | 7 | 3 | 8.5 |
| Against | 716,717 | 52.4 | 13 | 3 | 14.5 |
| Blank votes | 51,614 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,020 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,422,205 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,134,052 | 34.4 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
March: Extending paid leave
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 489,995 | 34.8 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Against | 918,685 | 65.2 | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Blank votes | 19,961 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,729 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,430,370 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,134,052 | 34.6 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
June: Right to life
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 448,016 | 31.0 | 4 | 3 | 5.5 |
| Against | 999,077 | 69.0 | 16 | 3 | 17.5 |
| Blank votes | 31,856 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,523 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,480,472 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,144,312 | 35.7 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
June: Stamp duty for banks
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 903,345 | 66.5 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 454,560 | 33.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Blank votes | 100,995 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,794 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,460,694 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,144,312 | 35.2 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
June: Tax on spirits
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 982,318 | 72.3 | 19 | 6 | 22 |
| Against | 376,135 | 27.7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Blank votes | 100,479 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,839 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,460,771 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,144,312 | 35.2 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
June: Breadstuffs
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 787,156 | 57.0 | 16 | 5 | 18.5 |
| Against | 592,751 | 43.0 | 4 | 1 | 4.5 |
| Blank votes | 82,030 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 1,697 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,463,634 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,144,312 | 35.3 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
September: Co-ordinating the start of the School year
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 984,463 | 58.8 | 14 | 4 | 16 |
| Against | 688,459 | 41.2 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Blank votes | 30,555 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,223 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,705,700 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,160,547 | 41.0 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
September: Innovations
| Choice |
Votes |
% |
|---|
| For | 695,288 | 43.1 |
| Against | 917,507 | 56.9 |
| Blank votes | 84,782 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,639 | – |
| Total | 1,700,216 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,160,547 | 40.9 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
September: Changes to the Civil Code
| Choice |
Votes |
% |
|---|
| For | 921,743 | 54.7 |
| Against | 762,619 | 45.3 |
| Blank votes | 23,290 | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,223 | – |
| Total | 1,709,875 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,160,547 | 41.1 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
December: Banning vivisection
| Choice |
Popular vote |
Cantons |
|---|
| Votes |
% |
Full |
Half |
Total |
| For | 459,358 | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,099,122 | 70.5 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Blank votes | 21,118 | – | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 2,680 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 1,582,278 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,167,376 | 38.0 | – | – | – |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
References
- 1 2 Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1929–1930 ISBN 9783832956097
- 1 2 3 Nohlen & Stöver, p1930
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