Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977.[1] The first three were held on 13 March on 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] The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).[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]
Results
March: Foreign infiltration
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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