Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004.[1] The first three were held on 8 February on a counter proposal to the popular initiative "for safe and efficient motorways" (rejected), an amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law (rejected) and a popular initiative "life-long custody for non-curable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent criminals" (approved).[1] The second set of three was held on 16 May on a revision of the federal law on Aged and Bereaved insurance, a federal resolution on financing the Aged and Bereaved insurance, and a federal law that would affect taxation for married couples, families, private housing and stamp duty, all of which were rejected.[2]
The next four were held on 26 September on a federal resolution on naturalisation (rejected), a federal resolution on third-generation foreigners getting Swiss citizenship (rejected), a popular initiative "postal services for all" (rejected) and a federal law on compensating members of the armed forces for loss of earnings (approved).[2] The final set of referendums was held on 28 November on a federal resolution on rebalancing the financial duties of the Federation and the Cantons, a federal resolution on the constitutional reordering of the budget and a federal law on stem cell research, all of which were approved.[2]
| Month | Question | For | Against | Blank/invalid | Total | Registered voters |
Turnout | Cantons for | Cantons against | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Blank | Invalid | Full | Half | Full | Half | |||||
| February | Counter-proposals to motorway initiative | 800,632 | 37.2 | 1,351,500 | 62.8 | 22,991 | 7,914 | 2,183,037 | 4,788,961 | 45.6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 |
| Amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law | 755,561 | 35.9 | 1,347,458 | 64.1 | 64,015 | 8,391 | 2,175,425 | 45.4 | ||||||
| Life sentences for dangerous criminals | 1,198,867 | 56.2 | 934,569 | 43.8 | 39,124 | 8,303 | 2,180,863 | 45.5 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 1 | ||
| May | Amending the Aged and Bereaved insurance law | 772,773 | 32.1 | 1,634,572 | 67.9 | 20,747 | 10,313 | 2,438,405 | 4,798,197 | 50.8 | ||||
| Financing of Aged and Bereaved insurance | 756,550 | 31.4 | 1,651,347 | 68.6 | 21,035 | 10,369 | 2,439,301 | 50.8 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||
| Federal law on taxation | 821,475 | 34.1 | 1,585,910 | 65.9 | 21,902 | 10,390 | 2,439,677 | 50.8 | ||||||
| September | Federal resolution on naturalisation | 1,106,529 | 43.2 | 1,452,453 | 56.8 | 20,188 | 12,256 | 2,591,426 | 4,814,035 | 53.8 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 5 |
| Citizenship rights of third-generation immigrants | 1,238,912 | 48.4 | 1,322,587 | 51.6 | 18,214 | 12,255 | 2,591,968 | 53.8 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 5 | ||
| Postal services for all | 1,247,711 | 49.8 | 1,259,114 | 50.2 | 58,197 | 12,597 | 2,577,679 | 53.5 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 5 | ||
| Compensation for members of the armed forces | 1,417,159 | 55.5 | 1,138,580 | 44.5 | 22,600 | 12,385 | 2,590,724 | 53.8 | ||||||
| November | Federal and cantonal financial duties | 1,104,565 | 64.4 | 611,331 | 35.6 | 52,754 | 8,064 | 1,776,714 | 4,819,855 | 36.9 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Constitutional reordering of the federal budget | 1,258,895 | 73.8 | 446,662 | 26.2 | 61,974 | 8,239 | 1,775,770 | 36.8 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Stem cell research law | 1,156,706 | 66.4 | 585,530 | 33.6 | 35,058 | 7,921 | 1,785,215 | 37.0 | ||||||
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||||||||||||||
Switzerland
