Total revision of the Valais cantonal Constitution
On 3 March 2024, the people of Valais were asked to rule on a total revision of their cantonal Constitution. The founding text in force dates from 1907: more th…
All votes
Popular initiative “For a better life in retirement” (13th OASI pension initiative)
On 3 March 2024, the Swiss people and cantons accepted the popular initiative "For a better life in retirement", known as the "13th OASI pension initiative", by…
Vaud popular initiative “For the protection of the climate”
On 18 June 2023, the Vaud electorate accepted, with 62.72 % yes (117,178 votes to 65,354), the popular initiative "For the protection of the climate", launched …
Climate and Innovation Act (counter-proposal to the Glacier Initiative)
On 18 June 2023, Swiss voters approved, by 59.07%, the Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security (KlG), commonly k…
“OASI 21” reform (raising women’s reference age to 65)
On 25 September 2022, Swiss voters narrowly approved the "OASI 21" reform, designed to stabilise the financing of old-age and survivors' insurance. Backed by a …
Amendment to the Film Act (“Lex Netflix”)
On 15 May 2022, Swiss voters decided on the revision of the Film Act, nicknamed the "Lex Netflix". The text, adopted by Parliament, had been challenged by a ref…
Initiative for clean drinking water and healthy food
Launched by the “Clean Water for All” association (Sauberes Wasser für alle) of Franziska Herren, the “For clean drinking water and healthy food” initiative sou…
Popular initiative «For strong nursing care»
On 28 November 2021, the Swiss electorate adopted, by 61.0% of voters and 24 cantons out of 26 (only the half-canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden rejecting with 52.…
Civil marriage for all
On 26 September 2021, Swiss voters decided on "marriage for all", the opening of civil marriage to same-sex couples. The amendment to the Civil Code had been ad…
CO2 Act (total revision)
On 13 June 2021, Swiss voters narrowly rejected, by 51.6%, the total revision of the CO2 Act. Backed by the Federal Council and a broad coalition from the SP to…
Popular initiative “For a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides”
On 13 June 2021, Swiss voters decided on two agricultural initiatives on the same day. The initiative "For a Switzerland without synthetic pesticides" came from…
Moutier — Vote on joining the canton of Jura (second vote)
On 28 March 2021, the citizens of Moutier confirmed their 2017 choice at the ballot box: by 54.9% (2,114 yes to 1,740 no), the town decided — this time definiti…
Popular initiative ‘Yes to a ban on face covering’
On 7 March 2021, Swiss voters and cantons narrowly accepted, by 51.2% of the vote, the popular initiative 'Yes to a ban on face covering', launched by the Egerk…
Geneva cantonal minimum wage (23 CHF/h)
In September 2020, Geneva put back on the table an idea voters had twice rejected: a statutory minimum wage. The canton had said no to a cantonal scheme in 2011…
Responsible business initiative « For responsible businesses – protecting human rights and the environment »
On 29 November 2020, the Swiss people and cantons decided on the popular initiative « For responsible businesses – protecting human rights and the environment »…
Popular initiative ‘For a ban on financing war material producers’
On 29 November 2020, Swiss voters decided on the popular initiative 'For a ban on financing war material producers', launched by the Group for a Switzerland wit…
Act on the Secularism of the State (LLE)
On 10 February 2019, the Geneva electorate accepted, with 55.1 % yes, the Act on the Secularism of the State (LLE), after a tense campaign. Turnout reached 43.8…
Popular initiative « For healthy, ecologically and fairly produced food » (fair food)
On 23 September 2018, Swiss voters decided on the popular initiative « For healthy, ecologically and fairly produced food », the so-called fair food initiative …
Popular initiative « For food sovereignty. Agriculture concerns us all »
On 23 September 2018 — the same day as the fair food initiative — Swiss voters decided on the popular initiative « For food sovereignty. Agriculture concerns us…
Sovereign Money initiative (“For crisis-proof money”)
On 10 June 2018, Swiss voters decided on the initiative "For crisis-proof money: money creation by the National Bank only!", better known as the Sovereign Money…
Federal Act on Gambling (LJAr)
On 10 June 2018, the same day as the Sovereign Money initiative, Swiss voters decided on the new Federal Act on Gambling (BGS/LJAr). Challenged by referendum, t…
Popular initiative “Yes to abolishing radio and television licence fees” (No Billag)
On 4 March 2018, Swiss voters decided on the popular initiative "Yes to abolishing radio and television licence fees" — known by its campaign name No Billag, af…
Initiative « Pour le remboursement des soins dentaires » — dental insurance (Vaud)
Launched in 2014 by the PoP and solidaritéS and carried by a broad left-wing coalition, the « Pour le remboursement des soins dentaires » initiative starts from…
« Old-Age Provision 2020 » reform
On 24 September 2017, Swiss voters rejected the « Old-Age Provision 2020 » reform. The act was refused by 52.7 % of voters, while the additional VAT financing f…
Moutier — Vote on joining the canton of Jura (first vote)
On 18 June 2017, the citizens of Moutier decided by 51.72% (2,067 yes to 1,930 no, on a record 89.7% turnout) to leave the canton of Bern and join the Republic …
Corporate Tax Reform III (CTR III)
On 12 February 2017, Swiss voters rejected the third corporate tax reform (CTR III) by 59.1 % no. Only four cantons accepted it. Turnout reached about 46.8 %.Th…
Vaud Act on the Preservation and Promotion of the Rental Housing Stock (LPPPL)
On 12 February 2017 the canton of Vaud adopted the Act on the Preservation and Promotion of the Rental Housing Stock (LPPPL) with 55.5% Yes (108,040 votes to 86…
Popular initiative « for a green economy »
On 25 September 2016, Swiss voters rejected the initiative « For a sustainable and resource-efficient economy » (green economy) by 63.6 % no and almost every ca…
Popular initiative “In favour of public service”
On 5 June 2016, the popular initiative "In favour of public service" was swept away by 67.6% no and the rejection of all 26 cantons. Launched by four consumer m…
Vaud RIE III — cantonal corporate tax reform
On 20 March 2016, Vaud voters approved, with 87.12% voting Yes (125,362 to 18,538), the cantonal component of the third corporate tax reform (RIE III), put to t…
Initiative “For marriage and family — against the marriage penalty” (Christian Democrats)
On 28 February 2016, the popular initiative "For marriage and family — against the marriage penalty", launched by the CVP/PDC (Christian Democrats), is narrowly…
Popular initiative “Stop overpopulation” (Ecopop)
On 30 November 2014, Swiss voters massively rejected the popular initiative "Stop overpopulation — to safeguard natural resources", known as Ecopop, with 74.1% …
“For a Public Health Insurance Fund”
On 28 September 2014, Swiss voters rejected the "For a public health insurance fund" initiative backed by the left. The text sought to replace the roughly sixty…
“Sauver Lavaux” initiative and counter-proposal (protection of the terraced vineyards)
On 18 May 2014, Vaud voters rejected, with 68.1% voting No, Franz Weber's third "Sauver Lavaux" ("Save Lavaux") initiative, which sought a near-total ban on new…
“Against Mass Immigration” (SVP initiative)
On 9 February 2014, the people and the cantons narrowly accepted the "against mass immigration" initiative launched by the SVP. With 50.3 % yes and a majority o…
“1:12 – For Fair Wages” (Young Socialists’ initiative)
On 24 November 2013, Swiss voters rejected the "1:12 – For Fair Wages" initiative launched by the Young Socialists. The text sought to write into the Constituti…
SVP initiative “Election of the Federal Council by the People”
On 9 June 2013, Swiss voters clearly rejected the popular initiative "Election of the Federal Council by the People", launched by the SVP with 110,291 valid sig…
Popular initiative “against excessive compensation” (Minder)
On 3 March 2013, Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved the popular initiative "against excessive compensation", known as the Minder Initiative, after its author,…
New Constitution of the Republic and Canton of Geneva
On 14 October 2012, the Geneva electorate accepted, with 54.1 % yes, a new cantonal Constitution, replacing the 165-year-old text of 1847. Turnout was a low 31.…
Assisted suicide in care homes — amendment to the Public Health Act
On 17 June 2012, Vaud became the first Swiss canton to give itself a legal basis for assisted suicide in care homes (EMS) and hospitals. Voters rejected EXIT's …
Popular initiative “6 weeks of vacation for all”
On 11 March 2012, Swiss voters decisively rejected the popular initiative "6 weeks of vacation for all" launched by Travail.Suisse. The text aimed to enshrine i…
Neuchâtel’s cantonal minimum wage — a Swiss first
On 27 November 2011, Neuchâtel voters approved, by 54.64% (24,624 yes to 20,439 no), a constitutional decree establishing a cantonal minimum wage — a Swiss firs…
Vaud Compulsory Education Act (LEO)
On 4 September 2011, Vaud voters chose between two visions of schooling. They accepted, with about 52% in favour, the new Compulsory Education Act (LEO), the Gr…
“Vivre et voter ici” initiative (cantonal political rights for foreigners)
On 4 September 2011, voters in the canton of Vaud rejected, with 68.96% voting No, the popular initiative "Vivre et voter ici" ("Live here, vote here"), which s…
Vaud initiative «For the right to a minimum wage»
On 15 May 2011, Vaud voters narrowly rejected — by 51.11 % No — the popular initiative «For the right to a minimum wage». By a whisker, Vaud missed becoming the…
Vaud law on family supplementary benefits and the bridge pension (LPCFam)
On 15 May 2011, Vaud voters approved by 61.13 % Yes the law on cantonal supplementary benefits for families (Family SB) and the bridge pension (LPCFam), challen…
Initiative for the deportation of criminal foreigners (SVP)
On 28 November 2010, Swiss voters approved with 52.9 % the SVP popular initiative "For the deportation of criminal foreigners (deportation initiative)". The Par…
Initiative against the construction of minarets
In the late 2000s, a few minaret projects — notably in Wangen bei Olten — sparked highly publicised local opposition. In 2007, a committee formed by the SVP and…
“For a unified and more efficient police force” initiative (Operation D’Artagnan)
On 27 September 2009, Vaud voters rejected by 54 per cent (on a 45 per cent turnout) the popular initiative "For a unified and more efficient police force", kno…
All-day school — Article 63a of the Vaud Constitution
On 27 September 2009, Vaud voters approved, with 70.81% Yes, the addition of a new Article 63a to the cantonal Constitution devoted to the « all-day school ». T…
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts at Bellerive (study credit)
On 30 November 2008, Vaud voters rejected by 52.42 per cent (100,686 No against 91,385 Yes, on a 51.15 per cent turnout) the 390,000-franc study credit intended…
Initiative « 2 January and Whit Monday: public holidays for all! » (Vaud)
In spring 2003, the opening of major retailers (Coop and Migros) at the Crissier shopping centre on a Whit Monday exposed a loophole: neither Vaud law nor most …
Initiative « La parole aux communes ! » — municipal referendum (Vaud)
In the mid-2000s, the canton of Vaud thoroughly reorganised the division of tasks and funding between the state and its municipalities, notably through the EtaC…
Extension of the free movement of persons to the 10 new EU states
On 25 September 2005, Swiss voters approved with 56.0 % the federal decree extending the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) to the ten new states …
Schengen and Dublin Agreements
On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters approved with 54.6 % the federal decree endorsing the Schengen and Dublin agreements with the European Union. Turnout reached 56.6 …
New Fribourg cantonal Constitution
On 16 May 2004, the people of Fribourg ruled on a venture rare in Switzerland: the complete rewriting of their cantonal Constitution. The text then in force dat…
Vaud initiative «Sauver le Pied du Jura» (Save the Foot of the Jura)
On 16 May 2004, Vaud voters clearly rejected the popular initiative «Sauver le Pied du Jura» («Save the Foot of the Jura»), launched by environmentalist Franz W…
Lausanne m2 metro — cantonal participation in the financing
On 24 November 2002 Vaud voters approved, with 62% Yes, the decree granting the canton's participation in financing the Lausanne m2 metro between Ouchy and Les …
New Vaud Cantonal Constitution (total revision)
On 22 September 2002, Vaud voters accepted the new cantonal Constitution with 55.9% in favour. Drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected in 1999, the text repla…
“Oui à la région!” initiative — the Vaud-Geneva merger
On 2 June 2002, voters in Vaud and Geneva jointly buried the most ambitious institutional project French-speaking Switzerland had ever seen: the "Oui à la régio…
Switzerland’s accession to the United Nations
On 3 March 2002, the Swiss people accepted by 54.6 % Yes and 12 cantons out of 23 the popular initiative "For Switzerland's accession to the United Nations Orga…
Bilateral Agreements I with the EU (referendum)
On 21 May 2000, Swiss voters approved by 67.2% the seven Bilateral Agreements I concluded with the European Union in June 1999. Only two cantons rejected the pa…
Alpine Initiative (protection of the Alpine region from transit traffic)
On 20 February 1994, Switzerland springs a surprise. Against the advice of the Federal Council and Parliament, the people narrowly accept the «Alpine Initiative…
Federal decree on the financial regime (introduction of VAT)
On 28 November 1993, Switzerland votes on a reform as technical as it is decisive: replacing the old turnover tax, dating from the Second World War, with a Euro…
Popular initiative «for a Switzerland without new fighter jets» (F/A-18)
On 6 June 1993, six months after the «no» to the European Economic Area, Switzerland returns to the ballot box on a question that touches the heart of its ident…
Switzerland’s accession to the European Economic Area (EEA)
In the early 1990s, Europe is changing. The European Economic Community (EEC) is preparing its single market for 1993 and negotiating with the countries of the …