# 1971 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 31 October 1971. Although the Social Democratic Party received the most votes, the Free Democratic Party emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 49 of the 200 seats. They were the first federal elections in which women were allowed to vote, following a referendum earlier in the year that introduced universal suffrage for federal elections.

## Results
### National Council

| | Social Democratic Party | 456,233 | 22.90 | 46 | –4 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 432,259 | 21.70 | 49 | 0 |
| | Christian Democratic People's Party | 407,225 | 20.44 | 44 | –1 |
| | Swiss People's Party | 220,487 | 11.07 | 23 | –1 |
| | Alliance of Independents | 152,086 | 7.63 | 13 | –3 |
| | Republican Movement | 84,700 | 4.25 | 7 | +7 |
| | National Action | 63,781 | 3.20 | 4 | +3 |
| | Swiss Party of Labour | 51,341 | 2.58 | 5 | 0 |
| | Liberal Democratic Union | 43,710 | 2.19 | 6 | 0 |
| | Evangelical People's Party | 42,778 | 2.15 | 3 | 0 |
| | Independent Social-Christian Party | 5,946 | 0.30 | 0 | – |
| | Autonomous Socialist Party | 5,271 | 0.26 | 0 | New |
| | Swiss Progressive Organisations | 1,820 | 0.09 | 0 | – |
| | Other parties | 24,679 | 1.24 | 0 | – |
| Total | Total | 1,992,316 | 100.00 | 200 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,992,316 | 98.72 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 25,761 | 1.28 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,018,077 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,549,429 | 56.86 | | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||||

#### By constituency

| Constituency | Seats | Electorate | Turnout | Party | Votes | Seats won |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Social Democratic Party | 474,648 | 3 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 396,770 | 3 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Free Democratic Party | 315,776 | 3 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Swiss People's Party | 247,379 | 2 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Ring of Independents | 187,426 | 2 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Republican Movement | 115,305 | 1 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Evangelical People's Party | 76,306 | 0 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | National Action | 68,260 | 0 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Team 67 | 51,975 | 0 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Free Eligible Voters and Non-Partisan Voters | 36,972 | 0 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | Free Voters for Education and Progress | 8,243 | 0 |
| Aargau | 14 | 232,941 | 145,512 | European Federalist Party | 6,570 | 0 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 28,671 | 13,915 | Free Democratic Party | 15,924 | 1 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 28,671 | 13,915 | Social Democratic Party | 9,521 | 1 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 7,624 | 2,386 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 2,217 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | Social Democratic Party | 115,853 | 2 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | Free Democratic Party | 94,370 | 2 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | Ring of Independents | 56,704 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | Swiss People's Party | 48,314 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 54,815 | 1 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 7 | 114,565 | 59,320 | National Action | 41,095 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Social Democratic Party | 146,745 | 2 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Free Democratic Party | 55,327 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Liberal Party | 62,533 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Ring of Independents | 61,133 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 54,238 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | National Action | 38,678 | 1 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Party of Labour | 29,246 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Republican Movement | 23,593 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Swiss Progressive Organisations | 8,859 | 0 |
| Basel-Stadt | 7 | 149,309 | 69,418 | Free Opposition Party | 2,008 | 0 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Social Democratic Party | 3,272,395 | 10 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Swiss People's Party | 3,086,851 | 10 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Free Democratic Party | 1,819,024 | 5 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Ring of Independents | 664,295 | 2 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 566,163 | 1 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Evangelical People's Party | 430,124 | 1 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | National Action | 388,872 | 1 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Republican Movement | 221,004 | 1 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Independent Social-Christian Party | 91,632 | 0 |
| Bern | 31 | 601,381 | 347,799 | Volkstümlich | 4,736 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 6 | 104,385 | 55,827 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 136,147 | 3 |
| Fribourg | 6 | 104,385 | 55,827 | Free Democratic Party | 81,018 | 2 |
| Fribourg | 6 | 104,385 | 55,827 | Social Democratic Party | 65,253 | 1 |
| Fribourg | 6 | 104,385 | 55,827 | Swiss People's Party | 28,460 | 0 |
| Fribourg | 6 | 104,385 | 55,827 | Independent Social-Christian Party | 17,435 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Party of Labour | 183,332 | 3 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Free Democratic Party | 168,724 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Social Democratic Party | 167,854 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Liberal Party | 123,516 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Independent Social-Christian Party | 120,939 | 2 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Ring of Independents | 54,563 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | Vigilance | 47,504 | 0 |
| Geneva | 11 | 173,910 | 81,670 | National Action | 12,696 | 0 |
| Glarus | 1 | 22,016 | 13,582 | Social Democratic Party | 7,652 | 1 |
| Glarus | 1 | 22,016 | 13,582 | Free Democratic Party | 5,667 | 0 |
| Grisons | 5 | 89,842 | 50,960 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 93,234 | 2 |
| Grisons | 5 | 89,842 | 50,960 | Swiss People's Party | 85,146 | 2 |
| Grisons | 5 | 89,842 | 50,960 | Free Democratic Party | 37,034 | 1 |
| Grisons | 5 | 89,842 | 50,960 | Social Democratic Party | 34,801 | 0 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 165,445 | 109,655 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 473,336 | 5 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 165,445 | 109,655 | Free Democratic Party | 290,905 | 3 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 165,445 | 109,655 | Social Democratic Party | 120,390 | 1 |
| Lucerne | 9 | 165,445 | 109,655 | Ring of Independents | 84,561 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Social Democratic Party | 68,715 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Free Democratic Party | 54,661 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Liberal Party | 35,858 | 1 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Party of Labour | 30,778 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Republican Movement | 22,672 | 0 |
| Neuchâtel | 5 | 96,306 | 46,491 | Progressive National Party | 12,080 | 0 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 14,794 | 7,596 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 6,425 | 1 |
| Obwalden | 1 | 14,371 | 7,721 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 7,547 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 40,982 | 32,257 | Social Democratic Party | 24,897 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 40,982 | 32,257 | Free Democratic Party | 20,500 | 1 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 40,982 | 32,257 | Ring of Independents | 7,548 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 40,982 | 32,257 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 4,984 | 0 |
| Schaffhausen | 2 | 40,982 | 32,257 | National Action | 3,983 | 0 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 50,787 | 22,844 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 24,758 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 50,787 | 22,844 | Social Democratic Party | 18,652 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 50,787 | 22,844 | Free Democratic Party | 13,124 | 1 |
| Schwyz | 3 | 50,787 | 22,844 | We Want to Vote | 7,800 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 128,238 | 82,369 | Free Democratic Party | 194,154 | 3 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 128,238 | 82,369 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 156,657 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 128,238 | 82,369 | Social Democratic Party | 148,795 | 2 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 128,238 | 82,369 | Ring of Independents | 40,527 | 0 |
| Solothurn | 7 | 128,238 | 82,369 | National Action | 25,844 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 679,985 | 6 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Free Democratic Party | 364,356 | 3 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Social Democratic Party | 225,490 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Ring of Independents | 108,322 | 1 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Republican Movement | 108,035 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Evangelical People's Party | 46,530 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | Swiss Progressive Organisations | 6,552 | 0 |
| St. Gallen | 12 | 211,565 | 131,082 | European Federalist Party | 5,227 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Free Democratic Party | 242,069 | 4 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 219,389 | 3 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Social Democratic Party | 82,930 | 1 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Autonomous Socialist Party | 42,116 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Party of Labour | 17,314 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Swiss People's Party | 15,364 | 0 |
| Ticino | 8 | 133,771 | 81,114 | Republican Movement | 10,984 | 0 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | Swiss People's Party | 92,097 | 2 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 82,962 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | Social Democratic Party | 73,228 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | Free Democratic Party | 59,665 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | Republican Movement | 31,120 | 1 |
| Thurgau | 6 | 96,996 | 60,159 | National Action | 14,999 | 0 |
| Uri | 1 | 19,694 | 11,039 | Free Democratic Party | 9,712 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Free Democratic Party | 537,173 | 5 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Social Democratic Party | 515,893 | 4 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Party of Labour | 252,539 | 2 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Liberal Party | 256,061 | 2 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Swiss People's Party | 159,490 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 108,558 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | National Action | 87,146 | 1 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Ring of Independents | 85,011 | 0 |
| Vaud | 16 | 288,668 | 132,382 | Republican Movement | 60,816 | 0 |
| Valais | 7 | 119,854 | 80,589 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 341,294 | 5 |
| Valais | 7 | 119,854 | 80,589 | Free Democratic Party | 106,853 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 119,854 | 80,589 | Social Democratic Party | 85,778 | 1 |
| Valais | 7 | 119,854 | 80,589 | Social Independent Movement | 20,380 | 0 |
| Zug | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Christian Democratic People's Party | | 1 |
| Zug | 2 | Elected unopposed | Elected unopposed | Free Democratic Party | | 1 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Social Democratic Party | 2,688,278 | 8 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Free Democratic Party | 2,158,558 | 6 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Ring of Independents | 2,127,106 | 6 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Swiss People's Party | 1,566,199 | 5 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Republican Movement | 1,448,131 | 4 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Christian Democratic People's Party | 1,228,888 | 3 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Evangelical People's Party | 668,427 | 2 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | National Action | 637,912 | 1 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Party of Labour | 205,984 | 0 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | European Federalist Party | 43,931 | 0 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Erwa-Bund | 39,784 | 0 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Helvetic People's Movement Against Foreign Infiltration | 32,288 | 0 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | The Initiators | 24,633 | 0 |
| Zürich | 35 | 644,893 | 372,435 | Swiss People's Party | 9,000 | 0 |
| Source: Bundesblatt, 17 November 1971 ||||||||

### Council of the States

| | Christian Democratic People's Party | 17 | –1 |
| | Free Democratic Party | 15 | +1 |
| | Swiss People's Party | 5 | –1 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 4 | +2 |
| | Liberal Democratic Union | 2 | –1 |
| | Alliance of Independents | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 44 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver ||||