1975 Swiss referendums

Nine referendums were held in Switzerland in 1975.[1] The first was held on 2 March on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution on the article on the economic cycle. Although it was approved by a majority of voters, it did not receive the support of a majority of cantons (the result was an 11–11 tie),[2] so was rejected.[3] The next five were held on 8 June on protecting currency (approved), financing the national road network (approved),[2] amending the general tariff (rejected), increasing taxes the following year (approved) and restricting federal expenditure (approved).[4] The final three were held on 7 December on a constitutional amendment on the right to residence and welfare benefits (approved), a constitutional amendment on water management (approved) and a federal law on the import and export of agricultural goods (approved).[4]

Results

March: Economic cycle

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	542,745	52.8	10	2	11
Against	485,844	47.2	9	4	11
Blank votes	24,892	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,448	–	–	–	–
Total	1,054,929	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,712,238	28.4	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Currency protection

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	1,153,338	85.5	19	6	22
Against	195,219	14.5	0	0	0
Blank votes	19,737	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,525	–	–	–	–
Total	1,369,819	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,719,992	36.8	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: National road network

Choice	Votes	%
For	721,313	53.5
Against	627,980	46.5
Blank votes	18,518	–
Invalid votes	1,507	–
Total	1,369,318	100
Registered voters/turnout	3,719,992	36.8
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: General tariff

Choice	Votes	%
For	646,687	48.2
Against	694,252	51.8
Blank votes	26,004	–
Invalid votes	1,589	–
Total	1,368,532	100
Registered voters/turnout	3,719,992	36.8
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Increasing taxes

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	753,642	56.0	14	6	17
Against	593,041	44.0	5	0	5
Blank votes	21,398	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,618	–	–	–	–
Total	1,369,699	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,719,992	36.8	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Spending restrictions

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	1,021,315	75.9	19	6	22
Against	323,511	24.1	0	0	0
Blank votes	22,828	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,605	–	–	–	–
Total	1,369,259	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,719,992	36.8	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Constitutional amendment on residence and welfare benefits

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	842,165	75.6	19	6	22
Against	271,563	24.4	0	0	0
Blank votes	39,934	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,474	–	–	–	–
Total	1,155,136	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,737,823	30.9	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Constitutional amendment on water management

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	858,720	77.5	18	6	21
Against	249,043	22.5	1	0	1
Blank votes	46,897	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	1,559	–	–	–	–
Total	1,156,219	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	3,737,823	30.9	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Federal law on the import and export of agricultural goods

Choice	Votes	%
For	587,148	52.0
Against	541,489	48.0
Blank votes	31,605	–
Invalid votes	1,575	–
Total	1,161,817	100
Registered voters/turnout	3,737,823	31.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1922–1923 ISBN 9783832956097
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p1922
3. Switzerland, 2 March 1975: Economic article Direct Democracy (in German)
4. Nohlen & Stöver, p1923