IFES
 

March 8, 2015 Held

Switzerland
Swiss Confederation
Referendum

Results

Voter Participation


Cast Votes:2,210,891
Valid Votes:2,187,904
Invalid Votes:22,987
Voter
Turnout*

Referendum Vote Share

Poll question: “Do you want the popular initiative ‘to strengthen families! Tax-free child and education allowances’?” Note: “The initiative calls for additional tax relief for families with children. To this end, child and education allowances to be exempt from income tax.”

Yes537,795

24.60

No1,650,109

75.40
Poll question: “Do you want the popular initiative ‘Energy instead of VAT’?” Note: “The initiative calls for the introduction of a tax on non-renewable energy. The increase in the cost of energy consumption will be offset by the abolition of VAT.”

Yes175,405

8.00

No2,010,326

92.00
Election Results Modified: Jun 21, 2024

General Information

At stake in this referendum:

  • Voters will vote on two popular initiatives. 

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Simonetta SOMMARUGA*
  • Head of Government: President  Simonetta SOMMARUGA
  • Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung/Assemblée Fédérale/Assemblea Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Ständerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

*The Federal Presidency rotates among the 7 members of the Federal Council, which is the formal chief of state. Presently the Federal Council consists of Doris LEUTHARD, Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF, Ueli MAURER, Didier BURKHALTER, Simonetta SOMMARUGA, Johan SCHNEIDER—AMMANN, and Alain BERSET.

Main provisions in the referendum:

  • Poll question: “Do you want the popular initiative ‘to strengthen families! Tax-free child and education allowances’?” [1]
    • Note: “The initiative calls for additional tax relief for families with children. To this end, child and education allowances to be exempt from income tax.”[2]
  • Poll question: “Do you want the popular initiative ‘Energy instead of VAT’?”[3]
    • Note: “The initiative calls for the introduction of a tax on non-renewable energy. The increase in the cost of energy consumption will be offset by the abolition of VAT.”[4]

Results:

  • Strengthen families initiative: Submission rejected[5]
    • Turnout: 2,210,891
    • Valid: 2,187,904
    • Invalid: 22,987
    • Yes: 537,795 (24.6%)
    • No: 1,650,109 (75.4%)
  • Energy initiative: Submission rejected[6]
    • Turnout: 2,210,121
    • Valid: 2,185,731
    • Invalid: 24,390
    • Yes: 175,405 (8.0%)
    • No: 2,010,326 (92.0%)

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 8,256,000[7]
  • Registered voters: 5,254,965[8]

Gender Data:

  • Female Population: 4,171,800[9]
  • Is SWITZERLAND a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)[10]
  • Has SWITZERLAND ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)[11]
  • Gender Quota: No, but there are voluntary quotas adopted by political parties[12]
  • Female Candidates in this election: N/A
  • Number of Female Legislators: 57 (28%) of 200 seats in the National Council (Nationalrat/ Conseil National/ Consiglio Nazionale)[13]
  • Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 3[14]
  • Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A[15]

Disability Data:

  • Is SWITZERLAND a signatory to CRPD: N/A[16]
  • Has SWITZERLAND ratified CRPD: Yes (15 April 2014)[17]
  • Population with a disability: 1,199,404[18]
 
Election Modified: Jun 21, 2024

Most Recent Elections in Switzerland

With Participation Rates