# 1951 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 28 October 1951. Although the Social Democratic Party received the most votes, the Free Democratic Party remained the largest party in the National Council, winning 51 of the 196 seats.

## Results
### National Council

| | Social Democratic Party | 249,857 | 25.99 | 49 | +1 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 230,687 | 23.99 | 51 | –1 |
| | Conservative People's Party | 216,616 | 22.53 | 48 | +4 |
| | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 120,819 | 12.57 | 23 | +2 |
| | Alliance of Independents | 49,100 | 5.11 | 10 | +2 |
| | Swiss Party of Labour | 25,659 | 2.67 | 5 | –2 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | 24,813 | 2.58 | 5 | –2 |
| | Social-Political Group | 21,606 | 2.25 | 4 | –1 |
| | Evangelical People's Party | 9,559 | 0.99 | 1 | 0 |
| | Liberal Socialist Party | 8,194 | 0.85 | 0 | –1 |
| | Other parties | 4,588 | 0.48 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 961,498 | 100.00 | 196 | +2 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 961,498 | 97.42 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 25,439 | 2.58 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 986,937 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,386,146 | 71.20 | | |
| Source: Mackie & Rose, Nohlen & Stöver ||||||

#### By constituency

| Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Turnout | Party | Votes | Seats won |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Social Democratic Party | 317,094 | 4 |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Conservative People's Party | 214,280 | 4 |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Free Democratic Party | 180,353 | 3 |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 149,273 | 2 |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Ring of Independents | 59,209 | 0 |
| Aargau | 13 | 89,544 | 76,963 | Evangelical People's Party | 33,971 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 14,218 | 9,784 | Free Democratic Party | 8,901 | 1 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 14,218 | 9,784 | Social Democratic Party | 5,480 | 1 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 14,218 | 9,784 | Free Democratic People's List | 2,777 | 0 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 3,681 | 1,470 | Conservative People's Party | 1,167 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Social Democratic Party | 26,276 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Free Democratic Party | 15,128 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 13,090 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Conservative People's Party | 10,172 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Social-Political Group | 9,490 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Aktion Kanton Basel | 8,672 | 0 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 4 | 32,813 | 21,935 | Swiss Party of Labour | 3,730 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Social Democratic Party | 96,217 | 2 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Free Democratic Party | 63,473 | 2 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Liberal Party | 42,806 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Conservative People's Party | 40,908 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Swiss Party of Labour | 39,558 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Ring of Independents | 35,804 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 8 | 62,657 | 41,761 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 12,458 | 0 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Social Democratic Party | 2,086,933 | 12 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 1,978,637 | 11 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Free Democratic Party | 992,985 | 6 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Conservative People's Party | 344,568 | 2 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Ring of Independents | 234,662 | 2 |
| Bern | 33 | 248,241 | 177,779 | Liberal Socialist Party | 96,638 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,959 | 33,379 | Conservative People's Party | 123,845 | 4 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,959 | 33,379 | Free Democratic Party | 50,804 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,959 | 33,379 | Social Democratic Party | 25,834 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 7 | 45,959 | 33,379 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 29,717 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 59,936 | 30,902 | Free Democratic Party | 76,509 | 3 |
| Geneva | 8 | 59,936 | 30,902 | Swiss Party of Labour | 56,864 | 2 |
| Geneva | 8 | 59,936 | 30,902 | Liberal Party | 44,238 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 59,936 | 30,902 | Conservative People's Party | 37,503 | 1 |
| Geneva | 8 | 59,936 | 30,902 | Social Democratic Party | 29,914 | 1 |
| Glarus | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Social Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Glarus | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Free Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,371 | 27,381 | Conservative People's Party | 66,320 | 3 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,371 | 27,381 | Social-Political Group | 45,949 | 2 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,371 | 27,381 | Free Democratic Party | 26,600 | 1 |
| Grisons | 6 | 37,371 | 27,381 | Social Democratic Party | 21,020 | 0 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 66,383 | 56,703 | Conservative People's Party | 251,728 | 5 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 66,383 | 56,703 | Free Democratic Party | 197,601 | 3 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 66,383 | 56,703 | Social Democratic Party | 54,744 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 40,626 | 21,290 | Social Democratic Party | 42,460 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 40,626 | 21,290 | Free Democratic Party | 29,831 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 40,626 | 21,290 | Liberal Party | 24,577 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 40,626 | 21,290 | Swiss Party of Labour | 7,700 | 0 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 5,629 | 2,774 | Conservative People's Party | 2,443 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 6,209 | 3,837 | Conservative People's Party | 2,267 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 6,209 | 3,837 | Others | 1,450 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Free Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Social Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 20,727 | 14,974 | Conservative People's Party | 21,761 | 2 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 20,727 | 14,974 | Social Democratic Party | 11,840 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 20,727 | 14,974 | Free Democratic Party | 10,325 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 51,886 | 44,176 | Free Democratic Party | 129,255 | 3 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 51,886 | 44,176 | Social Democratic Party | 94,128 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 51,886 | 44,176 | Conservative People's Party | 78,558 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 85,709 | 67,673 | Conservative People's Party | 373,128 | 6 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 85,709 | 67,673 | Free Democratic Party | 251,809 | 4 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 85,709 | 67,673 | Social Democratic Party | 151,500 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 13 | 85,709 | 67,673 | Ring of Independents | 62,810 | 1 |
| Ticino | 7 | 48,860 | 32,959 | Free Democratic Party | 94,012 | 3 |
| Ticino | 7 | 48,860 | 32,959 | Conservative People's Party | 93,872 | 3 |
| Ticino | 7 | 48,860 | 32,959 | Social Democratic Party | 39,234 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,397 | 33,618 | Social Democratic Party | 56,574 | 2 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,397 | 33,618 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 52,195 | 2 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,397 | 33,618 | Conservative People's Party | 47,643 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 43,397 | 33,618 | Free Democratic Party | 38,552 | 1 |
| Uri | 1 | 8,244 | 5,358 | Free Democratic Party | 4,528 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Free Democratic Party | 342,180 | 7 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Social Democratic Party | 194,887 | 4 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Liberal Party | 144,537 | 2 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Swiss Party of Labour | 94,717 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 85,583 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 113,520 | 57,940 | Conservative People's Party | 44,102 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 46,424 | 34,464 | Conservative People's Party | 147,944 | 5 |
| Valais | 7 | 46,424 | 34,464 | Free Democratic Party | 48,671 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 46,424 | 34,464 | Social Democratic Party | 36,017 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 46,424 | 34,464 | Union of Peasants and Workers | 4,941 | 0 |
| Zug | 2 | 12,019 | 8,630 | Conservative People's Party | 7,319 | 1 |
| Zug | 2 | 12,019 | 8,630 | Free Democratic Party | 5,009 | 1 |
| Zug | 2 | 12,019 | 8,630 | Social Democratic Party | 4,322 | 0 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Social Democratic Party | 1,664,685 | 9 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Ring of Independents | 932,376 | 6 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 840,325 | 5 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Free Democratic Party | 763,778 | 5 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Conservative People's Party | 585,249 | 3 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Social-Political Group | 370,488 | 2 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Swiss Party of Labour | 166,957 | 1 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Evangelical People's Party | 222,328 | 1 |
| Zürich | 32 | 241,946 | 181,174 | Liberal Socialist Party | 136,151 | 0 |
| Source: Bundesblatt, 29 November 1951 ||||||||

### Council of the States

In several cantons the members of the Council of the States were chosen by the cantonal parliaments.
| | Swiss Conservative People's Party | 18 | 0 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 12 | +1 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 4 | –1 |
| | Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents | 3 | –1 |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | 3 | +1 |
| | Social-Political Group | 2 | 0 |
| | Other parties | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 44 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||