2026 Swiss referendums
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Several referendums were held in Switzerland during 2026, with national votes on 8 March, 14 June, 27 September and 29 November.[1]
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|
| |
8 March 2026 | |
| "Cash is freedom" initiative | |
|---|---|
| Counter-proposal to the cash initiative | |
| SRG Initiative | |
| Climate Fund Initiative | |
| Individual taxation | |
14 June 2026 | |
| "No to ten-million Switzerland" initiative | |
| Amendment to the Civilian Service Act | |
March
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 counte-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
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Registered voters |
Turnout | Outcome | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||
| "Cash is freedom" initiative | 1,381,191 | 45.61 | 9+0⁄2 | 1,646,845 | 54.39 | 11+6⁄2 | 52,297 | 3,080,333 | 5,656,176 | 54.46 | Rejected |
| Counter-proposal to the cash initiative | 2,169,303 | 73.41 | 20+6⁄2 | 785,763 | 26.59 | 0+0⁄2 | 52,297 | 3,007,362 | 55.37 | Approved | |
| SRG Initiative | 1,188,459 | 38.05 | 0+0⁄2 | 1,934,819 | 61.95 | 20+6⁄2 | 34,191 | 3,157,469 | 55.82 | Rejected | |
| Climate Fund Initiative | 897,355 | 29.29 | 0+0⁄2 | 2,165,868 | 70.71 | 20+6⁄2 | 80,321 | 3,143,544 | 55.58 | Rejected | |
| Individual taxation | 1,662,477 | 54.26 | 9+2⁄2 | 1,401,322 | 45.74 | 11+4⁄2 | 85,973 | 3,149,672 | 55.69 | Approved | |
| Source: Federal Chancellery,[5] opendata.swiss[6] | |||||||||||
June
Two referendums were held on 14 June.[7] One of them, "No to ten million Switzerland", 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
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
| Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total votes |
Turnout | Outcome | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Cantons | Votes | % | Cantons | ||||||
| "No to ten-million Switzerland" initiative | 1,492,603 | 45.21 | 8+4⁄2 | 1,808,916 | 54.79 | 12+2⁄2 | 58.86 | Rejected | |||
| Referendum on the Civilian Service Act | 1,690,343 | 52.46 | 17+5⁄2 | 1,531,878 | 47.54 | 3+1⁄2 | 58.26 | Approved | |||
| Source: Federal Statistical Office[14][15] | |||||||||||
September
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
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
- 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.