2010 Swiss Referendums
Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 2010; three in March on pension funds, animal protection and a constitutional amendment, one in September on unemployment benefits, and two in November on deporting foreign criminals and introducing a canton tax.
Results
March
Voters approved Provision 1, an amendment to the constitution on research on humans.
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 1,708,488 | 77.21 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Against | 504,167 | 22.79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 84,893 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,297,548 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.49 | – | – | – |
| Source | |||||
Voters rejected Provision 2, a federal decree on providing enhanced legal protection for animals.
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 671,731 | 29.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Against | 1,605,141 | 70.50 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 37,618 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,314,490 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.82 | – | – | – |
| Source | |||||
Voters also rejected Provision 3, a federal law which would change the minimum conversion rate for occupational and disability pension plans.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 617,209 | 27.27 |
| Against | 1,646,369 | 72.73 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 47,474 | – |
| Total | 2,311,052 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,051,169 | 45.75 |
| Source | ||
September
The referendum held on 26 September had a single topic, namely the revision of unemployment benefits. The centre and right-wing parties were in favour of the revision, which was undertaken to reduce the debt of the ALV, while the left-wing parties were against it.
The referendum was approved by 53.4% of voters, although only the German-speaking cantons (all of them except Basel-Stadt, which was against it with 50.4%) approved it.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 958,913 | 53.42 |
| Against | 836,101 | 46.58 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 24,463 | – |
| Total | 1,819,477 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,077,180 | 35.84 |
| Source | ||
November
The referendum held on 28 November had two issues:
- «Für die Ausschaffung krimineller Ausländer» ("For the deportation of criminal foreigners"), proposed by the Swiss People's Party, as well as a counterproposal by the other partes; and
- «Steuergerechtigkeits-Initiative» ("Taxation justice initiative") for higher taxes on high incomes and property as well as the introduction of a minimum cantonal tax.
The SVP's federal popular initiative on deportation was accepted with 52.2% and a majority of cantons in favour, while the counterproposal failed with only 44.5% in favour. Whilst it was not required, the tie-breaker showed a majority of voters against but a majority of cantons for. On 28 February 2016, a follow-up initiative, also launched by the SVP, was rejected by voters. The deportation initiative went in effect on 1 October 2016.
| Question | For | Against | Blank | Invalid votes | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | |||||||||
| Full | Half | Total | Full | Half | Total | |||||||||||
| Proposal | 1,397,923 | 52.26 | 15 | 5 | 17.5 | 1,243,942 | 46.51 | 5 | 1 | 5.5 | 32,762 | 1.23 | 16,172 | 2,690,799 | 5,084,053 | 52.93 |
| Counter-proposal | 1,189,269 | 44.46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,407,830 | 52.64 | 20 | 6 | 23 | 77,528 | 2.90 | 16,172 | 2,690,799 | 5,084,053 | 52.93 |
| Source | ||||||||||||||||
| Tie-breaker | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| Proposal | 1,252,761 | 46.84 | 13 | 4 | 15 |
| Counter-proposal | 1,271,365 | 47.53 | 7 | 2 | 8 |
| Blank | 150,501 | 5.63 | – | – | – |
| Invalid votes | 16,172 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,690,799 | 100 | 20 | 3 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5'084'053 | 52.93 | – | – | – |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||||
The taxation initiative failed with only 41.5% in favour.
| Choice | Votes | % | Cantons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Half | Total | |||
| For | 1,073,229 | 41.54 | 3 | 1 | 3.5 |
| Against | 1,510,589 | 58.46 | 17 | 5 | 19.5 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 78,292 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 2,662,110 | 100 | 20 | 6 | 23 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,084,053 | 52.36 | – | – | – |
| Source | |||||
Withdrawn
In August 2010, family members of a murder victim launched another constitutional amendment initiative to provide for capital punishment in cases of murder combined with sexual violence.[citation needed] The initiative quickly found itself at the center of public attention and was roundly rejected by political leaders; it was withdrawn a day after its official publication.
References
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