IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Switzerland

Swiss Confederation

8,775,760
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2022)

5,620,065
Registered Voters (as of Feb. 9, 2025)

46.09%
Average Turnout

94
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.894
Regimes of the World Classification: Liberal Democracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: Jan. 23, 1987
Ratified Date: March 27, 1997

SIGI* Score: 9.9
Level of Discrimination: Very Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: April 15, 2014

HDI* Score: 0.970
Category: Very High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Swiss Council of States	Standerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati	Upper House
Swiss National Council	Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale	Lower House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Viola AMHERD (since 1 January 2024)
Head of Government: President Viola AMHERD (since 1 January 2024)
Assembly: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) with a 46-seat Council of States (Ständerat) and a 200-seat National Council (Nationalrat)

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected from among the Federal Council by vote of the Federal Assembly. The President serves 1-year, non-consecutive terms.
The Federal Council is indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly, and members serve 4-year terms.
In the Council of States, 42 members are directly elected by absolute majority vote, and 4 members (from Jura and Neuchatel cantons) are directly elected by list proportional representation vote. Member term lengths vary by constituency (canton).
In the National Council, 194 members are directly elected by proportional representation vote, and 6 are directly elected by plurality vote. All members serve 4-year terms.

Elections

2025-11-30 | Status: Confirmed
Referendum
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2025-09-28 | Status: Confirmed
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 5,620,065
Turnout -

2025-02-09 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,137,918
Registered 5,620,065
Turnout 38.04

2024-11-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,530,270
Registered 5,615,207
Turnout 45.06

2024-09-22 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 5,611,289
Turnout -

2024-06-06 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,499,156
Registered 5,505,962
Turnout 45.39

2024-03-03 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,250,055
Registered 5,591,446
Turnout 58.13

2023-10-22 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes 2,604,984
Registered 5,583,221
Turnout 46.66

2023-10-22 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,604,931
Registered 5,583,221
Turnout 46.66

2023-06-18 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,358,623
Registered 5,567,120
Turnout 42.37

2022-09-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,900,889
Registered 5,549,085
Turnout 52.28

2022-05-15 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,191,383
Registered 5,488,371
Turnout 39.93

2022-02-13 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,420,125
Registered 5,488,371
Turnout 44.1

2021-11-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,610,590
Registered 5,528,244
Turnout 65.31

2021-09-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,882,879
Registered 5,519,168
Turnout 52.23

2021-06-13 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,291,896
Registered 5,507,117
Turnout 59.78

2021-03-07 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,826,218
Registered 5,496,858
Turnout 51.42

2020-11-29 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,584,840
Registered 5,495,345
Turnout 47.04

2020-09-27 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,267,849
Registered 5,493,036
Turnout 59.49

2020-02-09 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,278,908
Registered 5,467,714
Turnout 41.68

2019-10-20 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes 2,462,581
Registered 5,460,268
Turnout 45.1

2019-10-20 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,462,581
Registered 5,460,268
Turnout 45.1

2019-05-19 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,356,013
Registered 5,391,090
Turnout 43.7

2019-02-10 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,028,734
Registered 5,428,531
Turnout 37.37

2018-11-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,585,802
Registered 5,391,090
Turnout 47.96

2018-09-23 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,004,433
Registered 5,391,090
Turnout 37.18

2018-06-10 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,325,982
Registered 5,391,090
Turnout 24.6

2018-03-04 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,904,047
Registered 5,391,090
Turnout 53.87

2017-09-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,546,386
Registered 5,372,748
Turnout 47.39

2017-05-21 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,297,296
Registered 5,356,538
Turnout 42.89

2017-02-12 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,482,448
Registered 5,325,848
Turnout 46.61

2016-11-27 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,399,984
Registered 5,325,848
Turnout 45.06

2016-09-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,269,020
Registered 5,325,848
Turnout 42.6

2016-06-05 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,465,868
Registered 5,325,848
Turnout 46.3

2016-02-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,342,034
Registered 5,295,506
Turnout 63.11

2015-10-18 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,563,052
Registered 5,295,506
Turnout 48.4

2015-10-18 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes 2,563,052
Registered 5,295,506
Turnout 48.4

2015-06-14 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,301,320
Registered 5,254,965
Turnout 43.79

2015-03-08 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,210,891
Registered 5,254,965
Turnout 42.07

2014-11-30 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,580,903
Registered 5,212,154
Turnout 49.52

2014-09-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,444,877
Registered 5,212,154
Turnout 46.91

2014-05-18 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,896,075
Registered 5,212,154
Turnout 55.56

2014-02-09 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,908,382
Registered 5,166,973
Turnout 56.29

2013-11-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,752,265
Registered 5,166,973
Turnout 53.27

2013-09-22 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,407,169
Registered 5,166,973
Turnout 46.59

2013-06-09 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,030,193
Registered 5,166,973
Turnout 39.29

2013-03-03 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,377,993
Registered 5,139,055
Turnout 46.27

2012-11-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,425,830
Registered 5,166,732
Turnout 27.6

2012-09-23 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,178,834
Registered 5,120,379
Turnout 42.55

2012-06-17 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,984,038
Registered 5,149,086
Turnout 38.53

2012-03-11 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,334,005
Registered 5,139,055
Turnout 45.42

2011-10-23 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes 2,485,403
Registered 5,124,034
Turnout 48.5

2011-10-23 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,485,403
Registered 5,124,034
Turnout 48.5

2011-02-13 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,478,967
Registered 5,030,915
Turnout 49.27

2010-11-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,690,799
Registered 5,084,053
Turnout 52.93

2010-09-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,819,477
Registered 5,077,180
Turnout 35.84

2010-03-07 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,276,233
Registered 5,030,915
Turnout 45.24

2009-11-29 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,669,162
Registered 5,030,915
Turnout 53.06

2009-09-27 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,063,128
Registered 5,030,915
Turnout 41.01

2009-05-17 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,915,746
Registered 4,891,363
Turnout 39.17

2009-02-08 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,572,040
Registered 4,891,363
Turnout 52.58

2008-11-30 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,374,312
Registered 4,996,626
Turnout 47.52

2008-06-01 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,245,577
Registered 4,970,220
Turnout 45.18

2008-02-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,920,885
Registered 4,957,889
Turnout 38.74

2007-10-21 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes 2,396,767
Registered 4,891,363
Turnout 49.0

2007-10-21 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,396,767
Registered 4,915,623
Turnout 48.76

2007-06-17 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,784,498
Registered 4,929,272
Turnout 36.2

2007-03-11 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,257,903
Registered 4,914,140
Turnout 45.95

2006-11-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,205,269
Registered 4,902,446
Turnout 44.98

2006-09-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,385,591
Registered 4,893,927
Turnout 48.75

2006-05-21 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,356,059
Registered 4,877,897
Turnout 27.8

2005-11-27 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,052,913
Registered 4,860,166
Turnout 42.24

2005-09-25 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,798,073
Turnout -

2005-06-05 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,798,073
Turnout -

2004-11-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,789,073
Turnout -

2004-09-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,789,073
Turnout -

2004-05-16 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,439,677
Registered 4,789,871
Turnout 50.93

2004-02-08 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,183,037
Registered 4,789,871
Turnout 45.58

2003-10-19 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes 2,161,921
Registered 4,757,478
Turnout 45.44

2003-10-19 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2003-05-18 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,700,000
Turnout -

2002-11-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,276,596
Registered 4,749,962
Turnout 47.93

2002-09-22 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,143,027
Registered 4,743,888
Turnout 45.17

2002-06-02 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,978,123
Registered 4,731,017
Turnout 41.81

2002-03-03 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,726,787
Registered 4,700,000
Turnout 58.02

2001-12-02 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,782,381
Registered 4,712,223
Turnout 37.82

2001-06-10 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,997,663
Registered 4,698,248
Turnout 42.52

2001-03-04 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,616,119
Registered 4,688,585
Turnout 55.8

2000-12-03 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,953,228
Registered 4,659,113
Turnout 41.92

2000-11-26 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 1,950,308
Registered 4,680,971
Turnout 41.66

2000-09-24 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes -
Registered 4,626,215
Turnout -

2000-05-21 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 2,253,284
Registered 4,664,565
Turnout 48.31

1999-10-24 | Status: Held
Swiss National Council
Votes -
Registered 4,620,850
Turnout -

1999-10-24 | Status: Held
Swiss Council of States
Votes -
Registered 4,620,850
Turnout -

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Referendum	2025-11-30	Confirmed	-	-	-
Referendum	2025-09-28	Confirmed	-	5,620,065	-
Referendum	2025-02-09	Held	2,137,918	5,620,065	38.04
Referendum	2024-11-24	Held	2,530,270	5,615,207	45.06
Referendum	2024-09-22	Held	-	5,611,289	-
Referendum	2024-06-06	Held	2,499,156	5,505,962	45.39
Referendum	2024-03-03	Held	3,250,055	5,591,446	58.13
Swiss Council of States	2023-10-22	Held	2,604,984	5,583,221	46.66
Swiss National Council	2023-10-22	Held	2,604,931	5,583,221	46.66
Referendum	2023-06-18	Held	2,358,623	5,567,120	42.37
Referendum	2022-09-25	Held	2,900,889	5,549,085	52.28
Referendum	2022-05-15	Held	2,191,383	5,488,371	39.93
Referendum	2022-02-13	Held	2,420,125	5,488,371	44.1
Referendum	2021-11-28	Held	3,610,590	5,528,244	65.31
Referendum	2021-09-26	Held	2,882,879	5,519,168	52.23
Referendum	2021-06-13	Held	3,291,896	5,507,117	59.78
Referendum	2021-03-07	Held	2,826,218	5,496,858	51.42
Referendum	2020-11-29	Held	2,584,840	5,495,345	47.04
Referendum	2020-09-27	Held	3,267,849	5,493,036	59.49
Referendum	2020-02-09	Held	2,278,908	5,467,714	41.68
Swiss Council of States	2019-10-20	Held	2,462,581	5,460,268	45.1
Swiss National Council	2019-10-20	Held	2,462,581	5,460,268	45.1
Referendum	2019-05-19	Held	2,356,013	5,391,090	43.7
Referendum	2019-02-10	Held	2,028,734	5,428,531	37.37
Referendum	2018-11-25	Held	2,585,802	5,391,090	47.96
Referendum	2018-09-23	Held	2,004,433	5,391,090	37.18
Referendum	2018-06-10	Held	1,325,982	5,391,090	24.6
Referendum	2018-03-04	Held	2,904,047	5,391,090	53.87
Referendum	2017-09-24	Held	2,546,386	5,372,748	47.39
Referendum	2017-05-21	Held	2,297,296	5,356,538	42.89
Referendum	2017-02-12	Held	2,482,448	5,325,848	46.61
Referendum	2016-11-27	Held	2,399,984	5,325,848	45.06
Referendum	2016-09-25	Held	2,269,020	5,325,848	42.6
Referendum	2016-06-05	Held	2,465,868	5,325,848	46.3
Referendum	2016-02-28	Held	3,342,034	5,295,506	63.11
Swiss National Council	2015-10-18	Held	2,563,052	5,295,506	48.4
Swiss Council of States	2015-10-18	Held	2,563,052	5,295,506	48.4
Referendum	2015-06-14	Held	2,301,320	5,254,965	43.79
Referendum	2015-03-08	Held	2,210,891	5,254,965	42.07
Referendum	2014-11-30	Held	2,580,903	5,212,154	49.52
Referendum	2014-09-28	Held	2,444,877	5,212,154	46.91
Referendum	2014-05-18	Held	2,896,075	5,212,154	55.56
Referendum	2014-02-09	Held	2,908,382	5,166,973	56.29
Referendum	2013-11-24	Held	2,752,265	5,166,973	53.27
Referendum	2013-09-22	Held	2,407,169	5,166,973	46.59
Referendum	2013-06-09	Held	2,030,193	5,166,973	39.29
Referendum	2013-03-03	Held	2,377,993	5,139,055	46.27
Referendum	2012-11-25	Held	1,425,830	5,166,732	27.6
Referendum	2012-09-23	Held	2,178,834	5,120,379	42.55
Referendum	2012-06-17	Held	1,984,038	5,149,086	38.53
Referendum	2012-03-11	Held	2,334,005	5,139,055	45.42
Swiss Council of States	2011-10-23	Held	2,485,403	5,124,034	48.5
Swiss National Council	2011-10-23	Held	2,485,403	5,124,034	48.5
Referendum	2011-02-13	Held	2,478,967	5,030,915	49.27
Referendum	2010-11-28	Held	2,690,799	5,084,053	52.93
Referendum	2010-09-26	Held	1,819,477	5,077,180	35.84
Referendum	2010-03-07	Held	2,276,233	5,030,915	45.24
Referendum	2009-11-29	Held	2,669,162	5,030,915	53.06
Referendum	2009-09-27	Held	2,063,128	5,030,915	41.01
Referendum	2009-05-17	Held	1,915,746	4,891,363	39.17
Referendum	2009-02-08	Held	2,572,040	4,891,363	52.58
Referendum	2008-11-30	Held	2,374,312	4,996,626	47.52
Referendum	2008-06-01	Held	2,245,577	4,970,220	45.18
Referendum	2008-02-24	Held	1,920,885	4,957,889	38.74
Swiss Council of States	2007-10-21	Held	2,396,767	4,891,363	49.0
Swiss National Council	2007-10-21	Held	2,396,767	4,915,623	48.76
Referendum	2007-06-17	Held	1,784,498	4,929,272	36.2
Referendum	2007-03-11	Held	2,257,903	4,914,140	45.95
Referendum	2006-11-26	Held	2,205,269	4,902,446	44.98
Referendum	2006-09-24	Held	2,385,591	4,893,927	48.75
Referendum	2006-05-21	Held	1,356,059	4,877,897	27.8
Referendum	2005-11-27	Held	2,052,913	4,860,166	42.24
Referendum	2005-09-25	Held	-	4,798,073	-
Referendum	2005-06-05	Held	-	4,798,073	-
Referendum	2004-11-28	Held	-	4,789,073	-
Referendum	2004-09-26	Held	-	4,789,073	-
Referendum	2004-05-16	Held	2,439,677	4,789,871	50.93
Referendum	2004-02-08	Held	2,183,037	4,789,871	45.58
Swiss National Council	2003-10-19	Held	2,161,921	4,757,478	45.44
Swiss Council of States	2003-10-19	Held	-	-	-
Referendum	2003-05-18	Held	-	4,700,000	-
Referendum	2002-11-24	Held	2,276,596	4,749,962	47.93
Referendum	2002-09-22	Held	2,143,027	4,743,888	45.17
Referendum	2002-06-02	Held	1,978,123	4,731,017	41.81
Referendum	2002-03-03	Held	2,726,787	4,700,000	58.02
Referendum	2001-12-02	Held	1,782,381	4,712,223	37.82
Referendum	2001-06-10	Held	1,997,663	4,698,248	42.52
Referendum	2001-03-04	Held	2,616,119	4,688,585	55.8
Referendum	2000-12-03	Held	1,953,228	4,659,113	41.92
Referendum	2000-11-26	Held	1,950,308	4,680,971	41.66
Referendum	2000-09-24	Held	-	4,626,215	-
Referendum	2000-05-21	Held	2,253,284	4,664,565	48.31
Swiss National Council	1999-10-24	Held	-	4,620,850	-
Swiss Council of States	1999-10-24	Held	-	4,620,850	-

Voter Turnout

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