Six referendums were held in Switzerland in 1979.[1] The first four were held on 18 February on reducing the voting age to 18 (rejected), a popular initiative "for the promotion of footpaths and hiking trails" (approved), "against advertising for addictive drugs" (rejected) and "for ensuring people's rights and the security of nuclear power installations" (rejected).[1]
The last two were held on 20 May on reforms to sales and direct federal taxation (rejected) and a federal resolution on the nuclear power law (approved).[2]
Results
February: Reducing the voting age to 18
| Choice
|
Popular vote
|
Cantons
|
| Votes
|
%
|
Full
|
Half
|
Total
|
| For |
934,073 |
49.2 |
8 |
2 |
9
|
| Against |
964,749 |
50.8 |
12 |
4 |
14
|
| Blank votes |
17,641 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,259 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Total |
1,917,722 |
100 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,867,603 |
49.6 |
– |
– |
–
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
| Choice
|
Popular vote
|
Cantons
|
| Votes
|
%
|
Full
|
Half
|
Total
|
| For |
1,467,357 |
77.6 |
19 |
6 |
22
|
| Against |
424,058 |
22.4 |
1 |
0 |
1
|
| Blank votes |
23,651 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,463 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Total |
1,916,529 |
100 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,867,603 |
49.6 |
– |
– |
–
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
February: Popular initiative against advertising addictive drugs
| Choice
|
Popular vote
|
Cantons
|
| Votes
|
%
|
Full
|
Half
|
Total
|
| For |
773,485 |
41.0 |
0 |
1 |
0.5
|
| Against |
1,115,116 |
59.0 |
20 |
5 |
22.5
|
| Blank votes |
26,247 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,697 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Total |
1,916,545 |
100 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,867,603 |
49.6 |
– |
– |
–
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
February: Popular initiative on people's rights and nuclear power installations
| Choice
|
Popular vote
|
Cantons
|
| Votes
|
%
|
Full
|
Half
|
Total
|
| For |
920,480 |
48.8 |
8 |
2 |
9
|
| Against |
965,927 |
51.2 |
12 |
4 |
14
|
| Blank votes |
29,400 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,755 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Total |
1,917,562 |
100 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,867,603 |
49.6 |
– |
– |
–
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
May: Changes to sales and direct federal taxation
| Choice
|
Popular vote
|
Cantons
|
| Votes
|
%
|
Full
|
Half
|
Total
|
| For |
496,882 |
34.6 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
| Against |
939,533 |
65.4 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Blank votes |
21,817 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,690 |
– |
– |
– |
–
|
| Total |
1,459,922 |
100 |
20 |
6 |
23
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,876,719 |
37.7 |
– |
– |
–
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
May: Nuclear power law
| Choice
|
Votes
|
%
|
| For |
982,634 |
68.9
|
| Against |
444,422 |
31.1
|
| Blank votes |
30,169 |
–
|
| Invalid votes |
1,930 |
–
|
| Total |
1,459,155 |
100
|
| Registered voters/turnout |
3,876,719 |
37.6
|
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver
|
References
- ^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1926–1927 ISBN 9783832956097
- ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p1927