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2026 Swiss referendums

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2026 Swiss referendums
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8 March 2026
"Cash is freedom" initiative
For
 
 46%
Against
 
 54%
Counter-proposal to the cash initiative
For
 
 73%
Against
 
 27%
SBC initiative
For
 
 38%
Against
 
 62%
Climate Fund initiative
For
 
 29%
Against
 
 71%
Individual taxation
For
 
 54%
Against
 
 46%
14 June 2026 (2026-06-14)
"No to ten-million Switzerland" initiative
For
 
 45%
Against
 
 55%
Amendment to the Civilian Service Act
For
 
 52%
Against
 
 48%

Several referendums were held in Switzerland during 2026, with national votes on 8 March, 14 June, 27 September and 29 November.[1]

March

[edit]

Four referendums were held on 8 March: Initiatives on cash, public broadcasting, a climate fund and individual taxation.[2][3]

The voters were asked whether to cap the annual license fee for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation at 200 francs while exempting other companies from the levy, whether to introduce individual taxation requiring married couples to file separate tax returns, whether to create a federal climate fund, and whether to protect cash in the constitution by guaranteeing that coins and banknotes remain in circulation.[2]

One referendum on the individual taxation passed, and also the counter-proposal for the initiative on cash passed, which sets a mandate to protect access to cash, while avoiding rigid constitutional limits on payments,[4] while the rest of referendums were rejected. Had both the popular initiative and the counter-proposal been approved, the conflict would have been resolved through the additional tie-breaker question that was voted on concurrently with the other five questions. In that vote, the counter-proposal received 1,841,208 votes, compared with 1,098,341 for the original initiative.

Results

[edit]
Question For Against Invalid/
blank		 Total
votes		 Registered
voters		 Turnout Outcome
Votes % Cantons Votes % Cantons
"Cash is freedom" initiative1,381,19145.619+0⁄21,646,84554.3911+6⁄252,2973,080,3335,656,17654.46Rejected
Counter-proposal to the cash initiative2,169,30373.4120+6⁄2785,76326.590+0⁄252,2973,007,36255.37Approved
SBC initiative1,188,45938.050+0⁄21,934,81961.9520+6⁄234,1913,157,46955.82Rejected
Climate Fund initiative897,35529.290+0⁄22,165,86870.7120+6⁄280,3213,143,54455.58Rejected
Individual taxation1,662,47754.269+2⁄21,401,32245.7411+4⁄285,9733,149,67255.69Approved
Source: Federal Chancellery,[5] opendata.swiss[6]

June

[edit]

Two referendums were held on 14 June."No to ten million Switzerland" [de], sought to cap the country's permanent resident population at 10 million by 2050. It was promoted by the Swiss People's Party.[8][9][10] The other sought to reduce the number of people switching to civilian alternatives to their compulsory military service.[8]

Referendum on capping the country's permanent resident population was rejected, while amendment to the Civilian Service Act has passed.

No to ten million Switzerland

[edit]
The results of the referendum on No to ten million Switzerland by canton. Red indicates opposition and green supports

A December 2025 poll found that 48% of respondents were in favor of the initiative, while 41% said they were against it.[a] A September 2025 poll found that 48% of respondents were in favor of the initiative, while 45% said they were against it.[11]

During the campaign the (SVP) Swiss People's Party, (EDU) Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland, (MCG) Geneva Citizens' Movement and Swiss Democrats supported the Yes vote.[12]

(EVP) Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland, (FDP) The Liberals, (GLP) Green Liberal Party of Switzerland, (GPS) Green Party of Switzerland, Centre, (PdA) Swiss Party of Labour and (SP) Social Democratic Party of Switzerland supported the No vote.[13]

Results

[edit]
Question For Against Invalid/
blank		 Total
votes		 Turnout Outcome
Votes % Cantons Votes % Cantons
"No to ten-million Switzerland" initiative1,492,85745.218+4⁄21,809,24654.7912+2⁄258.86Rejected
Amendment to the Civilian Service Act1,690,62252.4617+5⁄21,532,16047.543+1⁄258.26Approved
Source: Federal Statistical Office[14][15]

September

[edit]

The government has decided to put two proposals to a public vote on 27 September 2026:[16]

  • Popular initiative ‘Safeguarding Swiss neutrality (neutrality initiative)’;
  • Popular initiative ‘For safe food – through strengthening sustainable domestic production, increasing plant-based foods and ensuring clean drinking water (food initiative)’.

November

[edit]

The government has decided to put four proposals to a public vote on 29 November 2026:[17]

  • Federal decree of 19 June 2026 on additional funding for the AVS through an increase in VAT;
  • Popular initiative ‘For a restriction on fireworks’;
  • Popular initiative ‘Yes to fair federal taxation for married couples – To finally put an end to marriage discrimination!’;
  • Amendment of 19 December 2025 to the Federal Act on War Material (LFMG).

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ 88% of Swiss People's Party (SVP) supporters supported it; 42% of The Centre voters supported it, while 43% were against it; and 46% of FDP.The Liberals supporters supported it, while 38% opposed it. 73% of Social Democratic Party of Switzerland and 72% of Green Party of Switzerland supporters opposed it.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Votes for the next 20 years". Federal Chancellery (in French). Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Swiss voters to decide on four issues in March 2026". Le News. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Swiss to vote on tax and license fee initiatives in March". SWI swissinfo.ch. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Switzerland Cash Vote March 9: Voters Reject Initiative, Back Counterproposal". Meyka. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Volksabstimmung vom 08.03.2025". Federal Chancellery (in German). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Volksabstimmung vom 08.03.2026– Eidgenössische Vorlagen". opendata.swiss. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Votes to limit immigration and reform civil service set for June, 14th". Le News. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Swiss voters to decide on population cap and civilian service reform". SWI swissinfo. 11 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Ruehl, Mercedes (11 February 2026). "Switzerland to vote on plan to cap population at 10mn". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Firsova, Tatiana (11 February 2026). "Switzerland to Vote on Capping Population at 10 Million". New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Bachmann, Helena (9 December 2025). "Latest polls reveal Swiss anti-immigration initiative has strong voter support". The Local. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Popular initiative: 'No to Switzerland of 10 million! (Sustainability Initiative)'". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Amendment to the Civilian Service Act". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Objets de la votation populaire du 27 septembre 2026". admin.ch (in French). Federal Council. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Objets de la votation populaire du 29 novembre 2026". admin.ch (in French). Federal Council. 30 June 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
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