2000 Swiss referendums

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Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. [1] The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy (time limits for the handling of popular initiatives)", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. [2] The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters. [3]

Contents

The next set of four referendums was held on 24 September on a tax contribution for energy efficiency, as well as three popular initiatives; one for a tax contribution for promoting solar energy (alongside a counterproposal), as well as initiatives "for a regulation of immigration" and "more rights for people thanks to referendums with counter-proposals". Every proposal, including the counter-proposal, was rejected by voters. [3] The final five referendums were held on 26 November on a law on federal employees and four popular initiatives; "for a flexible retirement age for men and women from 62 years on", "economising on military and defence–for more peace and seminal jobs", "for lower hospital expenses" and one against raising the female retirement age. Whilst the federal law was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. [4]

Results

MonthQuestionForAgainstBlank/invalidTotalRegistered
voters
TurnoutCantons forCantons against
Votes%Votes%BlankInvalidFullHalfFullHalf
MarchJudicial reform1,610,10786.4254,35513.680,9057,8611,953,2284,659,12441.920600
Popular initiative on speeding up direct democracy573,03830.01,336,91670.044,2687,4831,961,70542.100206
Popular initiative on women in federal authorities346,31418.01,580,85982.031,3557,0131,965,54142.200206
Popular initiative on procreation technology539,79528.21,371,37271.847,5947,4071,966,16842.200206
Popular initiative on halving motorised road traffic415,60521.31,532,51878.719,4196,9881,974,53042.400206
MaySectoral agreements with the EU1,497,09367.2730,98032.816,3178,8942,253,2844,664,48248.3
SeptemberPopular initiative on promoting solar energy [a] 636,84831.31,364,75167.042,98110,3112,090,5484,676,48244.700206
Counter-proposal on solar energy [a] 922,48145.31,055,97751.842,98110,3112,090,54844.741165
Tax contribution for energy efficiency898,05044.51,119,69755.572,4189,1602,099,32544.921185
Popular initiative on regulating immigration754,62636.21,330,22463.823,2328,9712,117,05345.300206
Popular initiative on referendum with counter-proposal676,77634.11,308,03065.9101,2749,4332,095,51344.800206
NovemberPopular initiative on retirement age for women756,33739.51,159,79460.527,5276,6501,950,3084,681,04341.760146
Popular initiative on flexible retirement age885,77246.01,038,98554.021,6256,3841,952,76641.770136
Popular initiative on economising on military and defence723,04737.61,198,92362.424,3396,4561,952,76541.740166
Popular initiative on lower hospital expenses343,00817.91,574,52882.120,0156,6311,950,18241.700206
Law on federal employees1,253,99566.8622,38133.260,6987,1481,944,22241.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton

Swiss EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton
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Yes-votes
No-votes Swiss EU bilateral treaty referendum, results by canton, 2000.png
Swiss EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton
  Yes-votes
  No-votes
CantonYesNoElectorateVotesValid votesInvalid votes
Vaud 133,33632,669366,235167,828166,0051,823
Valais 49,54026,022183,53976,52275,562960
Genève 94,59725,530209,614121,564120,1271,437
Bern 204,88294,445675,852301,277299,3271,950
Freiburg 52,53317,886157,99671,06370,419644
Solothurn 53,68626,909163,51281,05580,595460
Neuchâtel 42,80511,117104,57254,59353,922671
Jura 17,4165,11547,92322,72722,531196
Basel-Stadt 47,12818,050119,89465,69265,178514
Basel-Landschaft 59,98324,583175,70085,51184,566945
Aargau 93,32556,702352,338150,740150,027713
Zürich 275,570118,423785,473399,856393,9935,863
Glarus 6,6434,97424,55811,67411,61757
Schaffhausen 18,64511,84148,13731,80730,4861,321
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 11,8867,26235,62219,25719,148109
Appenzell Innerrhoden 2,4212,24610,0324,6804,66713
St.Gallen 79,22746,136284,281125,947125,363584
Graubünden 30,17021,307127,98952,21851,477741
Thurgau 36,56927,411141,61165,23763,9801,257
Luzern 78,40246,745231,627126,718125,1471,571
Uri 6,7306,14925,44013,15012,879271
Schwyz 20,86521,06885,13343,17941,9331,246
Obwalden 5,8394,67722,20610,63110,516115
Nidwalden 8,1196,41526,95714,80214,534268
Zug 24,19910,75264,69135,11634,951165
Ticino 42,57756,546193,550100,44099,1231,317

a In the referendum with a counter-proposal, voters had the option of not answering. A total of 35,657 voters (1.8%) did not answer the solar energy question, whilst 58,798 (2.9%) did not answer the counter-proposal. [5]

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References

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1940–1942 ISBN   9783832956097
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, pp1940–1941
  3. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1941
  4. Nohlen & Stöver, pp1941–1942
  5. Switzerland, 24 September 2000: Solar cents (solar-initiative) with counter-proposal Direct Democracy (in German)