Service Citoyen Initiative

1. Basel-Stadt ½✗ No majority, Yes share 20.3%, Turnout 46%
2. Zurich✗ No majority, Yes share 18.8%, Turnout 47%
3. Schaffhausen✗ No majority, Yes share 18.4%, Turnout 67%
4. Basel-Landschaft ½✗ No majority, Yes share 17.5%, Turnout 41%
5. Fribourg✗ No majority, Yes share 16.9%, Turnout 41%
6. Graubünden✗ No majority, Yes share 16.4%, Turnout 43%
7. Bern✗ No majority, Yes share 16.2%, Turnout 42%
8. Zug✗ No majority, Yes share 16.1%, Turnout 51%
9. Appenzell Ausserrhoden ½✗ No majority, Yes share 16.0%, Turnout 50%
10. Geneva✗ No majority, Yes share 15.9%, Turnout 40%
11. Solothurn✗ No majority, Yes share 15.7%, Turnout 39%
12. Aargau✗ No majority, Yes share 15.5%, Turnout 42%
13. Neuchâtel✗ No majority, Yes share 15.1%, Turnout 36%
14. St. Gallen✗ No majority, Yes share 14.7%, Turnout 41%
15. Lucerne✗ No majority, Yes share 14.6%, Turnout 46%
16. Jura✗ No majority, Yes share 14.4%, Turnout 34%
17. Thurgau✗ No majority, Yes share 14.2%, Turnout 42%
18. Glarus✗ No majority, Yes share 13.8%, Turnout 38%
19. Ticino✗ No majority, Yes share 13.5%, Turnout 39%
20. Uri✗ No majority, Yes share 13.3%, Turnout 40%
21. Obwalden ½✗ No majority, Yes share 13.1%, Turnout 52%
22. Vaud✗ No majority, Yes share 13.0%, Turnout 41%
23. Nidwalden ½✗ No majority, Yes share 12.9%, Turnout 50%
24. Schwyz✗ No majority, Yes share 12.8%, Turnout 52%
25. Valais✗ No majority, Yes share 12.6%, Turnout 40%
26. Appenzell Innerrhoden ½✗ No majority, Yes share 11.7%, Turnout 43%

✓ Yes majority · ✗ No majority · Turnout %
½ half canton: counts half towards the majority of the cantons.

Sources: Federal Statistical Office (FSO); older votes: Swissvotes, Année Politique Suisse, University of Bern; map base: FSO, GEOSTAT

Cantons by their majority language: Fribourg and Valais count as French-speaking, Bern and Graubünden as German-speaking.

Yes or no?

What exactly is it about?

Today Swiss men must serve in the army or in civil protection. Those with a conflict of conscience do a longer civilian service. Anyone who does not serve pays an exemption fee. For Swiss women, service in the army or civil protection is voluntary. About 35,000 people become liable for service each year. The popular initiative «For an engaged Switzerland (Service Citoyen Initiative)» requires every person with Swiss citizenship to serve the community and the environment. This means women also become liable for service. The service is done in the military, in civil protection or in another equivalent service recognised by law. The staffing levels of the army and civil protection must be guaranteed. Anyone who does not serve pays a fee. The Confederation issues rules on compensation for loss of earnings. According to the Federal Council, about 70,000 people would have to serve each year, twice as many as today. Parliament may extend the duty to people without Swiss citizenship. The initiative needs a majority of voters and a majority of the cantons.

What is disputed?

The initiative committee argues that service brings young people from different regions and backgrounds together and so creates solidarity and cohesion. According to the committee, the initiative secures the staffing of the army and civil protection and understands security more broadly, for example with disaster preparedness and food security. It notes that today only one in three young people serves. The committee says young people gain practical skills in service, such as teamwork and first aid, and that Switzerland thereby invests in people. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend a no because, in their view, the duty to serve should only supply the army and civil protection with enough personnel, whereas the initiative goes beyond that with about 70,000 people a year. They expect costs about twice as high, around 1.6 billion francs for compensation for loss of earnings, and high extra costs for employers, who would have to make up for absences. According to them, a duty to serve for women would add to the multiple burdens of many women, who today do a large share of unpaid care and housework. They also consider it doubtful that enough services could be created that comply with the international ban on forced labour.

Party recommendations