Swiss referendums, 2000

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 returement 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		Against		Blank/invalid		Total	Registered voters	Turnout	Cantons for		Cantons against
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Blank	Invalid				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
	Speeding up direct democracy	573,038	30.0	1,336,916	70.0	44,268	7,483	1,961,705		42.1	0	0	20	6
	Women in federal authorities	346,314	18.0	1,580,859	82.0	31,355	7,013	1,965,541		42.2	0	0	20	6
	Procreation technology	539,795	28.2	1,371,372	71.8	47,594	7,407	1,966,168		42.2	0	0	20	6
	Halving motorised road traffic	415,605	21.3	1,532,518	78.7	19,419	6,988	1,974,530		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	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
	Counter-proposal on solar energy	922,481	45.3	1,055,977	51.8	42,981	10,311	2,090,548		44.7	4	1	16	5
	Tax contribution for energy efficiency	898,050	44.5	1,119,697	55.5	72,418	9,160	2,099,325		44.9	2	1	18	5
	Regulating immigration	754,626	36.2	1,330,224	63.8	23,232	8,971	2,117,053		45.3	0	0	20	6
	Referendums with counter-proposals	676,776	34.1	1,308,030	65.9	101,274	9,433	2,095,513		44.8	0	0	20	6
November	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
	Flexible retirement age	885,772	46.0	1,038,985	54.0	21,625	6,384	1,952,766		41.7	7	0	13	6
	Economising on military and defence	723,047	37.6	1,198,923	62.4	24,339	6,456	1,952,765		41.7	4	0	16	6
	Lower hospital expenses	343,008	17.9	1,574,528	82.1	20,015	6,631	1,950,182		41.7	0	0	20	6
	Law on federal employees	1,253,995	66.8	622,381	33.2	60,698	7,148	1,944,222		41.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

^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.