Two referendums were held in
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
during 1918.
[ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1907 ] The first was held on 2 June on introducing a direct federal tax, and was rejected by a majority of voters and cantons.
[ The second was held on 13 October 1918 on introducing ]proportional representation
Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (Political party, political parties) amon ...
for National Council elections, and was approved by a majority of voters and cantons.[ As a result, proportional representation was introduced in the 1919 elections.][Nohlen & Stöver, p1886]
Background
Both referendums were popular initiative
A popular initiative (also citizens' initiative) is a form of direct democracy by which a petition meeting certain hurdles can force a legal procedure on a proposition.
In direct initiative, the proposition is put directly to a plebiscite o ...
s,[ which required a double majority; a majority of the popular vote and majority of the cantons.][Nohlen & Stöver, p1891] The decision of each canton was based on the vote in that canton.[ Full cantons counted as one vote, whilst half cantons counted as half.][
]
Results
Federal tax
Proportional representation
References
{{Portal bar, Politics, Switzerland
1918 referendums
1918 in Switzerland
Referendums in Switzerland