# 2000 Swiss referendums

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy (time limits for the handling of popular initiatives)", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.
The next set of four referendums was held on 24 September on a tax contribution for energy efficiency, as well as three popular initiatives; one for a tax contribution for promoting solar energy (alongside a counterproposal), as well as initiatives "for a regulation of immigration" and "more rights for people thanks to referendums with counter-proposals". Every proposal, including the counter-proposal, was rejected by voters. The final five referendums were held on 26 November on a law on federal employees and four popular initiatives; "for a flexible retirement age for men and women from 62 years on", "economising on military and defence–for more peace and seminal jobs", "for lower hospital expenses" and one against raising the female retirement age. Whilst the federal law was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected.

## Results

| Month | Question | For | For | Against | Against | Blank/invalid | Blank/invalid | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons for | Cantons against | Cantons against |
| Month | Question | Votes | % | Votes | % | Blank | Invalid | Total | Registered voters | Turnout | Full | Half | Full | Half |
| March | Judicial reform | 1,610,107 | 86.4 | 254,355 | 13.6 | 80,905 | 7,861 | 1,953,228 | 4,659,124 | 41.9 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| March | Popular initiative on speeding up direct democracy | 573,038 | 30.0 | 1,336,916 | 70.0 | 44,268 | 7,483 | 1,961,705 | 4,659,124 | 42.1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| March | Popular initiative on women in federal authorities | 346,314 | 18.0 | 1,580,859 | 82.0 | 31,355 | 7,013 | 1,965,541 | 4,659,124 | 42.2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| March | Popular initiative on procreation technology | 539,795 | 28.2 | 1,371,372 | 71.8 | 47,594 | 7,407 | 1,966,168 | 4,659,124 | 42.2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| March | Popular initiative on halving motorised road traffic | 415,605 | 21.3 | 1,532,518 | 78.7 | 19,419 | 6,988 | 1,974,530 | 4,659,124 | 42.4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| May | Sectoral agreements with the EU | 1,497,093 | 67.2 | 730,980 | 32.8 | 16,317 | 8,894 | 2,253,284 | 4,664,482 | 48.3 | | | | |
| September | Popular initiative on promoting solar energy | 636,848 | 31.3 | 1,364,751 | 67.0 | 42,981 | 10,311 | 2,090,548 | 4,676,482 | 44.7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| September | Counter-proposal on solar energy | 922,481 | 45.3 | 1,055,977 | 51.8 | 42,981 | 10,311 | 2,090,548 | 4,676,482 | 44.7 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 5 |
| September | Tax contribution for energy efficiency | 898,050 | 44.5 | 1,119,697 | 55.5 | 72,418 | 9,160 | 2,099,325 | 4,676,482 | 44.9 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 5 |
| September | Popular initiative on regulating immigration | 754,626 | 36.2 | 1,330,224 | 63.8 | 23,232 | 8,971 | 2,117,053 | 4,676,482 | 45.3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| September | Popular initiative on referendum with counter-proposal | 676,776 | 34.1 | 1,308,030 | 65.9 | 101,274 | 9,433 | 2,095,513 | 4,676,482 | 44.8 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| November | Popular initiative on retirement age for women | 756,337 | 39.5 | 1,159,794 | 60.5 | 27,527 | 6,650 | 1,950,308 | 4,681,043 | 41.7 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 6 |
| November | Popular initiative on flexible retirement age | 885,772 | 46.0 | 1,038,985 | 54.0 | 21,625 | 6,384 | 1,952,766 | 4,681,043 | 41.7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| November | Popular initiative on economising on military and defence | 723,047 | 37.6 | 1,198,923 | 62.4 | 24,339 | 6,456 | 1,952,765 | 4,681,043 | 41.7 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 6 |
| November | Popular initiative on lower hospital expenses | 343,008 | 17.9 | 1,574,528 | 82.1 | 20,015 | 6,631 | 1,950,182 | 4,681,043 | 41.7 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| November | Law on federal employees | 1,253,995 | 66.8 | 622,381 | 33.2 | 60,698 | 7,148 | 1,944,222 | 4,681,043 | 41.5 | | | | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver |||||||||||||||

### EU bilateral treaty referendum results by canton

| Canton | Yes | No | Electorate | Votes | Valid votes | Invalid votes |
| Vaud | 133,336 | 32,669 | 366,235 | 167,828 | 166,005 | 1,823 |
| Valais | 49,540 | 26,022 | 183,539 | 76,522 | 75,562 | 960 |
| Genève | 94,597 | 25,530 | 209,614 | 121,564 | 120,127 | 1,437 |
| Bern | 204,882 | 94,445 | 675,852 | 301,277 | 299,327 | 1,950 |
| Freiburg | 52,533 | 17,886 | 157,996 | 71,063 | 70,419 | 644 |
| Solothurn | 53,686 | 26,909 | 163,512 | 81,055 | 80,595 | 460 |
| Neuchâtel | 42,805 | 11,117 | 104,572 | 54,593 | 53,922 | 671 |
| Jura | 17,416 | 5,115 | 47,923 | 22,727 | 22,531 | 196 |
| Basel-Stadt | 47,128 | 18,050 | 119,894 | 65,692 | 65,178 | 514 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 59,983 | 24,583 | 175,700 | 85,511 | 84,566 | 945 |
| Aargau | 93,325 | 56,702 | 352,338 | 150,740 | 150,027 | 713 |
| Zürich | 275,570 | 118,423 | 785,473 | 399,856 | 393,993 | 5,863 |
| Glarus | 6,643 | 4,974 | 24,558 | 11,674 | 11,617 | 57 |
| Schaffhausen | 18,645 | 11,841 | 48,137 | 31,807 | 30,486 | 1,321 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 11,886 | 7,262 | 35,622 | 19,257 | 19,148 | 109 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 2,421 | 2,246 | 10,032 | 4,680 | 4,667 | 13 |
| St.Gallen | 79,227 | 46,136 | 284,281 | 125,947 | 125,363 | 584 |
| Graubünden | 30,170 | 21,307 | 127,989 | 52,218 | 51,477 | 741 |
| Thurgau | 36,569 | 27,411 | 141,611 | 65,237 | 63,980 | 1,257 |
| Luzern | 78,402 | 46,745 | 231,627 | 126,718 | 125,147 | 1,571 |
| Uri | 6,730 | 6,149 | 25,440 | 13,150 | 12,879 | 271 |
| Schwyz | 20,865 | 21,068 | 85,133 | 43,179 | 41,933 | 1,246 |
| Obwalden | 5,839 | 4,677 | 22,206 | 10,631 | 10,516 | 115 |
| Nidwalden | 8,119 | 6,415 | 26,957 | 14,802 | 14,534 | 268 |
| Zug | 24,199 | 10,752 | 64,691 | 35,116 | 34,951 | 165 |
| Ticino | 42,577 | 56,546 | 193,550 | 100,440 | 99,123 | 1,317 |
$^a$ In the referendum with a counter-proposal, voters had the option of not answering. A total of 35,657 voters (1.8%) did not answer the solar energy question, whilst 58,798 (2.9%) did not answer the counter-proposal.