Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 28 October 1857. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council, winning 80 of the 120 seats.
Electoral system The 120 members of the National Council were elected in 49 single- and multi-member constituencies; there was one seat for every 20,000 citizens, with seats allocated to cantons in proportion to their population.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1886 The elections were held using a three-round system; candidates had to receive a majority in the first or second round to be elected; if it went to a third round, only a plurality was required. Voters could cast as many votes as there were seats in their constituency. In six cantons (Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri), National Council members were elected by the Landsgemeinde.
Compulsory voting was introduced in the Canton of Schaffhausen for the elections, with the canton seeing the highest turnout at 86.4% compared to the 46.5% figure nationally.
Results
National Council
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 14Radical Left4Zürich 23Radical Left3Zürich 33Radical Left3Zürich 43Radical Left3Bern 54Radical Left4Bern 64Evangelical Right4Bern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 93Radical Left3Bern 104Radical Left4Lucerne 112Liberal Centre1Josef Martin KnüselRadical Left1Josef BucherLucerne 122Catholic Right2Lucerne 133Radical Left3Uri 141Catholic Right1Florian LusserSchwyz 152Catholic Right2Obwalden 161Catholic Right1Franz WirzNidwalden 171Radical Left1Melchior JollerGlarus 182Liberal Centre2Zug 191Catholic Right1Konrad BossardFribourg 203Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1J. F. L. EngelhardFribourg 212Catholic Right2Solothurn 223Radical Left2Catholic Right1Franz BünzliBasel-Stadt 231Liberal Centre1Johann Jakob StehlinBasel-Landschaft 242Radical Left2Schaffhausen 252Radical Left2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 262Radical Left1Johann Konrad OertliLiberal Centre1Adolf Friedrich ZürcherAppenzell Innerhoden 271Catholic Right1Josef Anton FässlerSt. Gallen 282Radical Left2St. Gallen 292Radical Left2St. Gallen 302Radical Left2St. Gallen 312Catholic Right1Johann Joseph MüllerRadical Left1Johann Matthias HungerbühlerGrisons 321Evangelical Right1Johann Andreas SprecherGrisons 331Liberal Centre1Andreas Rudolf von PlantaGrisons 341Radical Left1Georg MichelGrisons 351Radical Left1Caspar de LatourAargau 363Liberal Centre2Radical Left1Friedrich Frey-HeroséAargau 374Radical Left2Liberal Centre2Aargau 383Radical Left2Catholic Right1Wilhelm Karl BaldingerThurgau 394Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Johann Baptist von StrengTicino 403Radical Left3Ticino 413Radical Left3Vaud 424Radical Left2Democratic Left1Constant FornerodLiberal Centre1Édouard DapplesVaud 433Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Jean-Louis DemiévilleVaud 443Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Charles BontemsValais 451Catholic Right1Alexis AlletValais 461Catholic Right1Adrien de CourtenValais 472Catholic Right2Neuchâtel 484Radical Left4Geneva 493Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Philippe CamperioSource: Gruner
Council of States
References