Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977.[ 1] popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties (which also had a counter-proposal). All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved.[ 2] [ 2]
The next set of referendums was held on 25 September on popular initiatives on protecting tenants (rejected, with a counter-proposal also rejected), air pollution caused by motor vehicles (rejected), and a law allowing abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy (rejected), as well as on two government proposals to raise the number of signatures required for optional referendums (approved) and popular initiatives (approved).[ 1]
The final four referendums were held on 4 December on a popular initiative on a wealth tax (rejected) and three federal law on political rights (approved), creating a civilian alternative to military service (rejected) and on balancing the federal budget (approved).[ 3]
March: Foreign infiltration
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
495,904
29.5
0
0
0
Against
1,182,820
70.5
19
6
22
Blank votes
29,949
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,382
–
–
–
–
Total 1,711,055 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,785,693
45.2
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
March: Limiting naturalisation
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
568,867
33.8
0
0
0
Against
1,116,188
66.2
19
6
22
Blank votes
24,673
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,245
–
–
–
–
Total 1,711,973 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,785,693
45.2
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
March: Changes to treaty referendums
edit
Choice
Popular initiative
Counterproposal
Popular vote
Cantons
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
351,127
21.9
0
0
0
978,999
61.0
18
5
20.5
Against
1,158,376
72.2
19
6
22
502,825
31.3
1
1
1.5
No answer
94,944
5.9
–
–
–
122,623
7.6
–
–
–
Blank votes
69,935
–
–
–
–
69,935
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
27,519
–
–
–
–
27,519
–
–
–
–
Total 1,701,901 100 19 6 22 1,701,901 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,785,693
45.0
–
–
–
3,785,693
45.0
–
–
–
Source: Direct Democracy
June: Changes to sales tax and direct federal tax
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
760,830
40.5
1
0
1
Against
1,117,044
59.5
18
6
21
Blank votes
18,616
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
1,778
–
–
–
–
Total 1,898,268 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,795,796
50.0
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
June: Tax harmonisation
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
1,133,652
61.3
16
3
17.5
Against
715,072
38.7
3
3
4.5
Blank votes
43,906
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,025
–
–
–
–
Total 1,894,655 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,795,796
49.9
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Protection of tenants
edit
Choice
Popular initiative
Counterproposal
Popular vote
Cantons
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
796,825
42.2
3
1
3.5
777,604
41.2
1
2
2
Against
1,043,798
55.3
16
5
18.5
944,806
50.1
18
4
20
No answer
45,811
2.4
–
–
–
164,024
8.7
–
–
–
Blank votes
58,757
–
–
–
–
58,757
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
20,990
–
–
–
–
20,990
–
–
–
–
Total 1,966,181 100 19 6 22 1,966,181 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,811,426
51.6
–
–
–
3,811,426
51.6
–
–
–
Source: Direct Democracy
September: Air pollution
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
740,842
39.0
1
1
1.5
Against
1,157,368
61.0
18
5
20.5
Blank votes
68,519
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,772
–
–
–
–
Total 1,969,501 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,811,426
51.7
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Increasing the number of signatures required for optional referendums
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
1,095,631
57.8
15
6
18
Against
798,416
42.2
4
0
4
Blank votes
69,730
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
3,328
–
–
–
–
Total 1,967,555 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,811,426
51.6
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Increasing the number of signatures required for popular initiatives
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
1,068,157
56.7
16
6
19
Against
815,488
43.3
3
0
3
Blank votes
81,379
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,999
–
–
–
–
Total 1,968,023 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,811,426
51.6
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
929,325
48.3
6
2
7
Against
994,930
51.7
13
4
15
Blank votes
51,680
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
3,228
–
–
–
–
Total 1,979,163 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,811,426
51.9
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Wealth tax
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
637,994
44.4
2
1
2.5
Against
800,138
55.6
17
5
19.5
Blank votes
22,090
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
1,264
–
–
–
–
Total 1,461,486 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,816,824
38.3
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Political rights
edit
Choice
Votes
%
For
809,862
59.4
Against
552,962
40.6
Blank votes
90,008
–
Invalid votes
1,688
–
Total 1,454,520 100
Registered voters/turnout
3,816,824
38.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Civilian service
edit
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
533,733
37.6
0
0
0
Against
885,868
62.4
19
6
22
Blank votes
40,069
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
1,503
–
–
–
–
Total 1,461,173 100 19 6 22
Registered voters/turnout
3,816,824
38.3
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Balancing the federal budget
edit
Choice
Votes
%
For
869,266
62.4
Against
523,125
37.6
Blank votes
62,749
–
Invalid votes
1,526
–
Total 1,456,666 100
Registered voters/turnout
3,816,824
38.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook , pp1924–1925 ISBN 9783832956097 ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1924
^ Nohlen & Stöver, p1925
