At Stake in this Election:  

On 9 February 2025, Switzerland is holding a popular vote on an “environmental responsibility” initiative. While the initiative does not establish specific thresholds or actions, it would set a goal of limiting economically driven pollution and resource consumption to preserve life on Earth.  

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025) 

• Head of Government: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025) 

• Assembly: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung, Assemblée Fédérale, or Assemblea Federale) with 46 seat Council of States (Ständerat, Conseil des États, or Consiglio degli Stati) and 200 seat National Council (Nationalrat, Conseil National, or Consiglio Nazionale) 

Electoral System:  

• The President is indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council, a cabinet indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly. The President serves a 1-year term, non-consecutively renewable.  

• All 46 members of the Council of States are elected in 1- or 2-seat constituencies. 42 of 46 are elected by simple plurality vote. The remaining 4 are elected by list proportional representation. The method of election is set by each canton. All members serve 4-year terms.  

• 194 of the 200 members of the National Council are elected by proportional representation vote. The remaining 6 members are elected by plurality vote. All members are serve 4-year terms.  

Last Election:  

In November 2024, Switzerland voted on four initiatives on the expansion of national highways, restrictions on subletting, landlord reoccupation conditions, and reducing canton funding of inpatient medical treatment. Only the reduction in canton funding of inpatient treatment, called the “Modification de la loi fédérale sur l’assurance-maladie (LAMal) (financement uniforme des prestations),” passed, achieving 53% voter approval. Voter turnout was 45%. 

Information for Voters: 

Initiative pour la responsabilité environnementale / Initiative for environmental responsability (in German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English) 

Key Deadlines:   

• Voter registration deadline: Not applicable, voter registration is passive 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 8,849,852 (2023 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 5,615,207 (2024) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 4,452,743 (2023 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 17 July 1980, Ratified 14 December 1983 

• Gender Quota: No 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 16 of 46 (35%) in the Council of States and 77 of 200 (39%) in the National Council.   

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.967, Very High, rank 1 (2022) 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 9.9 (2023) 

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Acceded 15 Apr 2014 

• Projected population with a disability: 1,415,976 (2023 est.) 

IFES Resources: 

• Election Access: Yes  

• ElectionJudgments: Yes, 2 judgements