# 2017 Swiss referendums

Seven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2017. Polling took place on 12 February, 21 May and 24 September, whilst no referendum was scheduled for the November date.

## February referendums

Three referendums were held on 12 February:
* One on the federal decree of 30 September 2016, to allow easier naturalisation of third generation immigrants
* One on the federal decree of 30 September 2016, to create a fund for national roads and urban infrastructure
* One on the federal law of 17 June 2016, to overhaul the corporate tax code to attract and retain international firms

### Results

| Question | For | For | Against | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons for | Cantons against | Cantons against | Result |
| Question | Votes | % | Votes | % | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Full | Half | Full | Half | Result |
| Easier naturalisation of third-generation immigrants | 1,499,627 | 60.4 | 982,844 | 39.6 | 20,979 | 2,503,450 | 5,344,186 | 46.8 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 2 | Approved |
| Road and infrastructure fund | 1,503,746 | 61.9 | 923,783 | 38.1 | 63,791 | 2,491,320 | 5,344,186 | 46.6 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Approved |
| Corporate tax code | 989,311 | 40.9 | 1,428,162 | 59.1 | 73,312 | 2,490,785 | 5,344,186 | 46.6 | | | | | Rejected |
| Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland 1, 2, 3 ||||||||||||||

## May referendum

One referendum was held on 21 May on whether to accept the new Energy Act, establishing the Energy Strategy 2050, which seeks to phase out nuclear energy and increase renewable energy and energy efficiency. The plan was opposed by the Swiss People's Party, which launched the optional referendum against it. The Energy Act was approved by 58% of voters.
| Question | For | For | Against | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Result |
| Question | Votes | % | Votes | % | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Result |
| Energy Act | 1,322,263 | 58.2 | 949,053 | 41.8 | 25,980 | 2,297,296 | 5,356,538 | 42.9 | Approved |
| Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland ||||||||||

## September referendums

On 24 September referendums were held on:
* A Federal Decree on Food Security
* A Federal Decree on Additional Funding for OASI Pensions
* A Federal Act on the 2020 Pension Reforms
The latter two referendums were related, and the Federal Act on the 2020 Pension Reforms would only have gone into effect if the proposed VAT increase was also accepted by voters. The pension reform would have raised the women's retirement age to 65. The proposed reforms were supported by centre and left-of-centre parties and opposed by right-of-centre parties such as the FDP.The Liberals and the Swiss People's Party.
| Question | For | For | Against | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons for | Cantons against | Cantons against | Result |
| Question | Votes | % | Votes | % | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registered voters | Turnout | Full | Half | Full | Half | Result |
| Food security | 1,943,180 | 78.7 | 524,919 | 21.3 | 63,110 | 2,531,209 | 5,372,748 | 47.1 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Approved |
| Additional funding for OASI pensions | 1,254,795 | 50.0 | 1,257,156 | 50.0 | 34,435 | 2,546,386 | 5,372,748 | 47.4 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 5 | Rejected |
| 2020 pension reforms | 1,186,203 | 47.3 | 1,320,952 | 52.7 | 38,742 | 2,545,897 | 5,372,748 | 47.4 | | | | | Rejected |
| Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland 1, 2, 3 ||||||||||||||