IFES
 

Nov. 27, 2016 Held

Switzerland
Swiss Confederation
Referendum

Results

Voter Participation


Cast Votes:2,399,984
Valid Votes:None
Invalid Votes:None
Voter
Turnout*

Referendum Vote Share

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

Yes 1,098,464

45.80

No1,301,520

54.20
Election Results Modified: Jun 21, 2024

General Information

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.)


[1] The position of President of the Swiss Confederation rotates on a yearly basis among the 7 federal councilors. Johann SCHNEIER-AMMANN, listed above, is the current president of the Swiss Confederation for 2016.

[2] There are 7 women serving in the Council of States (15.22%) and 63 in the National Council (32%). 

Election Modified: Jun 21, 2024

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