2010 Swiss referendums

Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 2010; three in March on pension funds, animal protection and a constitutional amendment, one in September on unemployment benefits, and two in November on deporting foreign criminals and introducing a canton tax.

Results

March

Voters approved Provision 1, an amendment to the constitution on research on humans.^[1]

Choice	Votes	%	Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	1,708,488	77.21	20	6	23
Against	504,167	22.79	0	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	84,893	–	–	–	–
Total	2,297,548	100	20	6	23
Registered voters/turnout	5,051,169	45.49	–	–	–
Source^[2]

Voters rejected Provision 2, a federal decree on providing enhanced legal protection for animals.^[1]

Choice	Votes	%	Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	671,731	29.50	0	0	0
Against	1,605,141	70.50	20	6	23
Invalid/blank votes	37,618	–	–	–	–
Total	2,314,490	100	20	6	23
Registered voters/turnout	5,051,169	45.82	–	–	–
Source^[3]

Voters also rejected Provision 3, a federal law which would change the minimum conversion rate for occupational and disability pension plans.^[1]

Choice	Votes	%
For	617,209	27.27
Against	1,646,369	72.73
Invalid/blank votes	47,474	–
Total	2,311,052	100
Registered voters/turnout	5,051,169	45.75
Source^[4]

September

The referendum held on 26 September had a single topic, namely the revision of unemployment benefits. The centre and right-wing parties were in favour of the revision, which was undertaken to reduce the debt of the ALV, while the left-wing parties were against it.^[5]

The referendum was approved by 53.4% of voters, although only the German-speaking cantons (all of them except Basel-Stadt, which was against it with 50.4%) approved it.^[6]^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
For	958,913	53.42
Against	836,101	46.58
Invalid/blank votes	24,463	–
Total	1,819,477	100
Registered voters/turnout	5,077,180	35.84
Source^[8]

November

The referendum held on 28 November had two issues:

«Für die Ausschaffung krimineller Ausländer» ("For the deportation of criminal foreigners"), proposed by the Swiss People's Party, as well as a counterproposal by the other partes; and
«Steuergerechtigkeits-Initiative» ("Taxation justice initiative") for higher taxes on high incomes and property as well as the introduction of a minimum cantonal tax.^[9]

The SVP's federal popular initiative on deportation was accepted with 52.2% and a majority of cantons in favour, while the counterproposal failed with only 44.5% in favour. Whilst it was not required, the tie-breaker showed a majority of voters against but a majority of cantons for. On 28 February 2016, a follow-up initiative, also launched by the SVP, was rejected by voters.^[10]^[11]^[12] The deportation initiative went in effect on 1 October 2016.^[12]

Question	For					Against					Blank		Invalid votes	Total	Registered voters	Turnout
	Votes	%	Cantons			Votes	%	Cantons			Votes	%
	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total	Votes	%
Proposal	1,397,923	52.26	15	5	17.5	1,243,942	46.51	5	1	5.5	32,762	1.23	16,172	2,690,799	5,084,053	52.93
Counter-proposal	1,189,269	44.46	0	0	0	1,407,830	52.64	20	6	23	77,528	2.90	16,172	2,690,799	5,084,053	52.93
Source^[13]

Tie-breaker
Choice	Votes	%	Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
Proposal	1,252,761	46.84	13	4	15
Counter-proposal	1,271,365	47.53	7	2	8
Blank	150,501	5.63	–	–	–
Invalid votes	16,172	–	–	–	–
Total	2,690,799	100	20	3	23
Registered voters/turnout	5'084'053	52.93	–	–	–
Source: Direct Democracy

The taxation initiative failed with only 41.5% in favour.

Choice	Votes	%	Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	1,073,229	41.54	3	1	3.5
Against	1,510,589	58.46	17	5	19.5
Invalid/blank votes	78,292	–	–	–	–
Total	2,662,110	100	20	6	23
Registered voters/turnout	5,084,053	52.36	–	–	–
Source^[14]

Withdrawn

In August 2010, family members of a murder victim launched another constitutional amendment initiative to provide for capital punishment in cases of murder combined with sexual violence.^{[citation needed]} The initiative quickly found itself at the center of public attention and was roundly rejected by political leaders; it was withdrawn a day after its official publication.^[15]