Switzerland: Referendum, 5 June 2016

At stake in this referendum:

• This referendum includes 5 provisions: three popular initiatives and two amendments to proposed laws.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Johann SCHNEIER-AMMANN (since 1 January 2016)[1]
• Head of Government: President Johann SCHNEIER-AMMANN (since 1 January 2016)
• Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung/Assemblee Federale/Assemblea Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat/Conseil des Etats/Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

Electoral requirements:

• Switzerland has two types of referendums, optional and mandatory. Optional referendums only require a simple majority of valid votes cast, while mandatory referendums require a double majority in valid votes cast and the majority of cantons.

Main provisions in the referendum:

• Popular Initiative: “Pro Public Service”
  • The first provision seeks to prevent the Confederation and affiliated companies from seeking financial gain from public services.
  • “Do you want to accept the popular initiative ‘Pro Public Service’?”
• Popular Initiative: “Unconditional Basic Income”
  • The second provision would provide for an unconditional basic income for all Swiss residents.
  • “Do you want to accept the popular initiative ‘Unconditional Basic Income’?”

• Popular Initiative: “Fair Transport Financing”
  • The third provision would require all revenue generated by mineral oil tax on fuels be spent on traffic-related tasks.
  • “Do you want to accept the popular initiative ‘Fair Transport Financing’?”

• Amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act:
  • The fourth provision is for an amendment to the Reproductive Medicine Act (RMA) proposed on 12 December 2014. The RMA currently bans the practice of preimplantation genetic diagnostics for in-vitro fertilization, but the proposed amendment would lift the ban.
  • “Do you want to accept the change of the 12 December 2014 Reproductive Medicine Act?”
• Amendment to the Asylum Act:
  • The fifth provision is for an amendment to the Asylum Act proposed on 25 September 2015. It seeks to institute a requirement that the majority of asylum procedures be completed in 140 days.
  • “Do you want to accept the change of the 25 September 2015 Asylum Act?”

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 8,121,830 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 5,302,797 (February 2016)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,117,322 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)

·         Has Switzerland ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 73 (29.67%)[2]

·         Human Development Index Position: 3 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CRPD: N/A

·         Has Switzerland ratified CRPD: Yes, Accession (15 April 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,218,275