Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1920.Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1908 The first three were held on 21 March on a federal law on regulating employment contracts, a ban on creating gambling establishments and a counterproposal to the ban. The fourth was held on 16 May on membership of the League of Nations (of which Switzerland had become a founding member the previous year), whilst the fifth was held on 31 October on a federal law on working times on railways and other transport services. Three of the five referendums, on the ban on gambling establishments, League of Nations membership and the law on working times, were passed.
Background The referendum on joining the League of Nations was a mandatory referendum, whilst the ban on gambling establishments was a popular initiative. Together with the counter-proposal, all three required a double majority; a majority of the popular vote and majority of the cantons.Nohlen & Stöver, p1891 The decision of each canton was based on the vote in that canton. Full cantons counted as one vote, whilst half cantons counted as half. The referendums on employment contracts and working times were optional referendums, which required only a majority of the public vote.
Contemporary analyses indicate that support for Swiss membership in the League of Nations was led by the Independent Democratic (Radical) Party, the Liberal Democratic (Protestant Conservative) Party, the anti-Bolshevist Peasants’ Party, the Christian Social Party, and the Griitlianer. Opposition came from Socialists aligned with Bolshevism and a faction of senior Swiss army officers led by Ulrich Wille, while Catholic Conservatives were divided.
Results
Federal law on regulating employment contracts ChoiceVotes%For254,45549.8Against256,40150.2Blank votes36,755–Invalid votes30,396–Total578,007100Registered voters/turnout957,38660.3Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Ban on creating gambling establishments ChoicePopular voteCantonsVotes%FullHalfTotalFor276,02155.313214Against223,12244.7648Blank votes23,138––––Invalid votes45,538––––Total567,81910019622Registered voters/turnout957,38659.3–––Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Counterproposal on gambling establishments ChoicePopular voteCantonsVotes%FullHalfTotalFor122,24026.1010.5Against345,32773.919521.5Blank votes23,138––––Invalid votes45,538––––Total536,24310019622Registered voters/turnout957,38656.0–––Source: Nohlen & Stöver
League of Nations membership ChoicePopular voteCantonsVotes%FullHalfTotalFor416,87056.310311.5Against323,71943.79310.5Blank votes6,502––––Invalid votes4,039––––Total751,13010019622Registered voters/turnout968,32777.6–––Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Federal law on working time ChoiceVotes%For369,46657.1Against277,34242.9Blank votes8,618–Invalid votes1,487–Total656,913100Registered voters/turnout964,58768.1Source: Nohlen & Stöver
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