en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_in_Switzerland
3 corrections found
And the minimum participation has to be higher than 40% (as cantonal referendum procedure).
Swiss federal constitutional votes do not have a 40% turnout quorum. At the federal level, constitutional amendments and popular initiatives require a majority of voters and a majority of cantons, not a minimum participation rate.
Full reasoning
This sentence adds a federal turnout requirement that does not exist.
Under Article 142 of the Swiss Federal Constitution, proposals submitted to both the people and the cantons are accepted when a majority of voters and a majority of cantons approve them. The Constitution does not impose any minimum turnout threshold such as 40%.
The Confederation’s own public explainer says the same thing: a constitutional amendment is accepted only if both the popular majority and the majority of cantons vote yes. Again, there is no mention of any turnout quorum.
So while some cantonal procedures may have their own rules, this article’s statement is wrong for federal popular initiatives and constitutional referendums.
2 sources
- ch.ch — Popular majority and majority of the cantons
"A proposal submitted to the vote of the People is adopted if it receives more yes votes than no votes. In the case of constitutional amendments, the majority of the cantons must also vote in favour." / "Such a proposal is accepted only if both the majority of voters (popular majority) as well as the majority of cantons say yes."
- Swiss Federal Constitution, Article 142
"Les actes soumis au vote du peuple et des cantons sont acceptés lorsque la majorité des votants et la majorité des cantons les approuvent."
Cantons with only one representative such as Nidwalden elect them via first-past-the-post voting amended by apparentment.
Single-seat cantons do not use 'apparentment' in National Council elections. They use the majority system, where the candidate with the most votes wins.
Full reasoning
This sentence mixes two different electoral systems.
For National Council elections, the Confederation’s public guidance says that cantons with only one seat elect their representative using the majority system. For Obwalden and Nidwalden specifically, it says: "the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected."
By contrast, apparentments (list combinations) are part of the proportional-representation list system. The Federal Chancellery’s candidate guide explains their effect in terms of the allocation of mandates to lists based on party votes. The same guide separately explains that in constituencies with only one National Council member, voters may vote for any eligible person and the person with the greatest number of votes is elected.
So the article is wrong to say single-member cantons are elected by first-past-the-post amended by apparentment. Apparentment is a list-combination device for proportional list elections, not the rule for one-seat majority elections like Nidwalden’s.
2 sources
- ch.ch — Procedures for the election of the National Council
"Cantons with only one seat in the National Council conduct their elections using the majority system." / "In the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden... the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected."
- Federal Chancellery — Guide à l'usage des groupes voulant lancer des candidatures 2023
The guide describes apparentments under "Effets de l’apparentement" as part of mandate allocation between lists, then separately states for single-member constituencies: "La personne qui a obtenu le plus grand nombre de voix est élue."
Approximately two months before the polling date they send voters a letter containing an envelope
For federal votes and elections, Swiss voting materials are generally sent about three to four weeks before polling day, not 'approximately two months' before.
Full reasoning
This timing is inconsistent with Swiss federal voting rules.
The Federal Act on Political Rights says that the cantons must deliver the documents needed to vote at least three and no more than four weeks prior to the polling day. The same act says National Council ballot papers must be delivered at least three weeks and no more than four weeks before polling day.
The Confederation’s public voting guidance also tells voters that voting papers will be sent directly to their address at least three weeks before the vote is held.
Because the official federal timetable is roughly 3–4 weeks, the article’s claim that municipalities send the materials approximately two months before the polling date is incorrect.
2 sources
- Federal Act on Political Rights
"Persons eligible to vote shall receive the documents required to cast a valid vote ... at least three and no more than four weeks prior to the polling day." / "The cantons shall arrange for a complete set of all ballot papers to be delivered to each person eligible to vote at least three weeks and no more than four weeks prior to the polling day."
- ch.ch — How to vote?
"Voting papers will be sent directly to your address at least three weeks before the vote is held."