How do Swiss votes work?
Several times a year the Swiss decide directly on federal laws and changes to the Constitution. Here is how it works.
Who may vote?
Every Swiss citizen aged 18 or over who is not excluded because of a permanent incapacity to judge. Swiss citizens living abroad may vote on federal matters too if they register with their last municipality or their embassy.
What is voted on?
Every change to the Constitution must go to a vote (mandatory referendum). Laws are voted on only if 50,000 people demand it within 100 days (optional referendum). 100,000 signatures within 18 months force a vote on a popular initiative, a proposal to change the Constitution. Parliament may add a counter-proposal.
How are the votes counted?
Most proposals need only the majority of the people who vote. Constitutional changes also need the majority of the cantons (double majority). Twenty cantons count as one vote each and the six half cantons (Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden) as half a vote each. That makes 23 cantonal votes; 12 are a majority. The result of each canton is the majority of its own voters.
When are votes held?
Up to four Sundays a year. The Federal Council sets the dates years ahead and decides at least four months before each Sunday which proposals are on the ballot. A Sunday can hold several proposals.
How do I vote?
About three to four weeks before the Sunday, every eligible person receives the voting documents from their municipality. Most people vote by post. You can also vote in person at the polling station, depending on your municipality, or in a few cantons by e-voting. Check your canton for the last date.
What happens afterwards?
On Sunday afternoon the cantons count the votes, and the first results come in within hours. The Federal Council later confirms the official result. A proposal that passes is put into force; a proposal that fails leaves the law as it is.
Sources: Federal Chancellery (ch.ch, admin.ch), Federal Constitution Art. 136, 138-142.
The cantonal majority explainedThe popular initiative explainedOptional and mandatory referendums explainedGo to the votes