2024 Swiss referendums

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2024 Swiss referendums
March 2024 Swiss referendums
3 March 2024
Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment
For
 
 58.24%
Against
 
 41.76%
Pensions Initiative (retirement age)
For
 
 25.28%
Against
 
 74.42%
Maps
Results by canton
Yes      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
No      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%
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Several referendums were held in Switzerland during 2024. National votes were held on 3 March, 9 June, and 22 September, and others were held on 24 November.[1]

March referendums

[edit]

Two national referendums were held on 3 March 2024. Both were related to the pension system.

  • The "Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment", proposed to add a 13th month of pension.[2]
  • The "Pensions Initiative (retirement age)" aimed to increase the retirement age this year, and raise it automatically every year.[3]

The Swiss government recommended voters to reject both referendums, however polls showed voters were likely to accept the first initiative and reject the second,[4] which was also the final result.[5]

Results

[edit]
Question For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters 		Turnout Outcome
Votes % Cantons Votes % Cantons
Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment 1,884,096 58.25 14+2⁄2 1,350,325 41.75 6+4⁄2 28,758 3,263,179 5,591,446 58.36 Approved
Pensions Initiative (retirement age) 808,578 25.25 0 2,393,930 74.75 20+6⁄2 47,547 3,250,055 58.13 Rejected
Source: Federal Chancellery[6]

June referendums

[edit]

Four referendum votes were held on 9 June 2024; two were regarding health insurance premiums, one regarding vaccinations, and one against a recent law concerning sustainable energy.[7]

Results

[edit]
Question For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters 		Turnout Outcome
Votes % Cantons Votes % Cantons
Premium Relief Initiative 1,117,095 44.53 7+1⁄2 1,391,645 55.47 13+5⁄2 36,415 2,545,155 5,599,464 45.45 Rejected
Cost-Brake Initiative 927,386 37.23 5+0⁄2 1,563,769 62.77 15+6⁄2 51,273 2,542,428 45.40 Rejected
Initiative for Freedom and Physical Integrity 655,106 26.27 0+0⁄2 1,838,740 73.73 20+6⁄2 46,842 2,540,688 45.37 Rejected
Federal Act on Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources 1,717,607 68.72 – 781,811 31.28 – 44,008 2,543,426 45.42 Approved
Source: Federal Chancellery[8]

September referendums

[edit]

Two national referendums were held on 22 September 2024 to vote on a reform of occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative.[9][10]

The reform of occupational pension schemes was supported by the government and opposed by the left-wing parties and trade unions.[11][12] The biodiversity initiative had been tabled by nature and environmental protection associations, and opposed by a broad alliance of the main right-wing and centrist parties, farming circles and economic organisations.[11]

Both referendums were rejected by voters.[13][14]

Results

[edit]
Question For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters 		Turnout Outcome
Votes % Cantons Votes % Cantons
Biodiversity Initiative 926,059 36.96 1+1⁄2 1,579,467 63.04 19+5⁄2 30,435 2,535,961 5,611,289 45.19 Rejected
Occupational Pension Reform 810,569 32.87 – 1,655,513 67.13 – 61,464 2,527,546 45.04 Rejected
Source: Federal Chancellery[15]

November referendums

[edit]

Four referendums[16] took place on 24 November, including one on three new motorways and tunnel expansions, one on changes to rental contracts, one on a decision by parliament to fix rates at which cantons can fund healthcare.[17] A referendum was also held in Basel-Stadt whether to approve the grant of 34.96 million Swiss francs ($39.5 million) by cantonal authorities for the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.[18]

Results showed negative results for additional road infrastructure and rent changes, while approving changes to healthcare funding.[19] The Eurovision expenditure referendum in Basel also passed with 66.6% of voters in favour.[20]

Question For Against Invalid/
blank 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters 		Turnout Outcome
Votes % Votes %
Expansion programme for the national highways 1,181,560 47.30 1,316,505 52.70 32,205 2,530,270 5,615,207 45.06 Rejected
Tenancy Law: Subletting 1,196,643 48.42 1,274,818 51.58 49,968 2,521,429 44.90 Rejected
Tenancy Law: Termination to permit personal use 1,141,693 46.17 1,331,134 53.83 49,183 2,522,010 44.91 Rejected
Health Insurance Act: Standardised financing of benefits 1,302,687 53.31 1,140,884 46.69 77,010 2,520,581 44.89 Approved
Source: Federal Chancellery[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Blank voting dates". Federal Chancellery.
  2. ^ Swiss Federal Council. "Initiative for a 13th OASI pension payment". Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. ^ Swiss Federal Council. "Pensions Initiative (retirement age)". Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  4. ^ Romy, Katy (2024-02-21). "March 3 vote poll: backing for pension boost crumbles". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ^ Bradley, Simon (2024-03-03). "Swiss vote: 'yes' to higher pensions, 'no' to retiring later". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  6. ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 03.03.2024" [Referendum on 3 March 2024] (in German).
  7. ^ "Swiss to vote on four issues on June 9". swissinfo.ch. January 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 09.06.2024" [Referendum on 9 June 2024] (in German).
  9. ^ "Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  10. ^ "Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September". Le News. 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  11. ^ a b "Swiss federal votes on September 22". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  12. ^ "Swiss trade unions argue against pension reform". Le News. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  13. ^ "Swiss voters reject plan to boost biodiversity, vote against pension reform". France 24. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  14. ^ "Swiss voters reject biodiversity, pension reforms". dw.com. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 22.09.2024" [Referendum on 22 September 2024] (in German).
  16. ^ "Popular vote on 24 November 2024". The Federal Council. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  17. ^ "Next round of Swiss referenda announced". Le News. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  18. ^ "Swiss region to vote on cost of 'blasphemous' Eurovision 2025". France 24. 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  19. ^ "Seven lessons from the November 2024 Swiss referendums". SWI. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  20. ^ "Eurovision 2025: Basel votes yes to funding song contest". Euronews. 2024-11-24. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  21. ^ "Volksabstimmung vom 24.11.2024" [Referendum on 24 November 2024] (in German).