Swiss Confederation: Referendum, 27 November 2016

At stake in this election:

• This referendum includes 1 provision brought about by popular initiative.

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.

About the referendum:

• The Federal Council has proposed a gradual withdrawal from the country’s nuclear energy program in which existing nuclear power stations, once decommissioned, will not be replaced by new ones.
• This initiative seeks to halt the program earlier, proposing to close three reactors in 2017, one in 2024, and the final reactor in 2029.
• The initiative also demands that the federal government direct its energy policy toward less consumption, more energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources.

Main provisions in the referendum:

• Popular initiative: “For an orderly withdrawal from the nuclear energy program (Nuclear Withdrawal Initiative)”
  • Do you support the popular initiative “For an orderly withdrawal from the nuclear energy program (Nuclear Withdrawal Initiative)?”

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 8,179,294 (July 2016 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 5,325,848 (2016)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,145,195 (July 2016 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

·         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: 1,226,894 (est.)