Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 25 October 1863. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council, but lost its majority for the first time since 1848.Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation BFS
Electoral system The 128 members of the National Council were elected in 47 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 As a result of the 1860 census, the number of seats was increased by eight following the previous elections in 1860, although the number of constituencies was reduced from 49; the extra seats were given to Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Graubünden, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Vaud and Valais. 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.
Results
National Council Voter turnout was highest in the Canton of Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 88.2% and lowest in the Canton of Zürich at 18.6%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 14Liberal Centre3Evangelical Right1Paul Carl Eduard ZieglerZürich 23Liberal Centre3Zürich 33Liberal Centre3Zürich 43Liberal Centre3Bern 54Radical Left4Bern 64Evangelical Right2Radical Left2Bern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 93Radical Left2Evangelical Right1Peter von KänelBern 104Radical Left4Lucerne 112Liberal Centre1Josef Martin KnüselRadical Left1Wilhelm SchindlerLucerne 122Catholic Right2Lucerne 133Radical Left3Uri 141Catholic Right1Alexander MuheimSchwyz 152Catholic Right2Obwalden 161Catholic Right1Franz WirzNidwalden 171Liberal Centre1Alois WyrschGlarus 182Liberal Centre2Zug 191Liberal Centre1Wolfgang HenggelerFribourg 203Catholic Right3Fribourg 212Catholic Right2Solothurn 223Radical Left2Catholic Right1Franz BünzliBasel-Stadt 232Liberal Centre1Johann Jakob StehlinRadical Left1Wilhelm KleinBasel-Landschaft 243Radical Left3Schaffhausen 252Liberal Centre1Friedrich Peyer im HofDemocratic Left1Wilhelm JoosAppenzell Ausserrhoden 262Liberal Centre2Appenzell Innerhoden 271Catholic Right1Johann Baptist DählerSt. Gallen 283Liberal Centre3St. Gallen 293Liberal Centre2Democratic Left1Basil Ferdinand CurtiSt. Gallen 303Radical Left1Democratic Left1Georg Friedrich AndereggGrisons 312Radical Left1Johann Gaudenz von SalisLiberal Centre1Simeon BavierGrisons 322Radical Left1Alois de LatourCatholic Right1Johann R. von ToggenburgGrisons 331Liberal Centre1Andreas Rudolf von PlantaAargau 343Liberal Centre3Aargau 354Liberal Centre2Radical Left2Aargau 363Catholic Right2Radical Left1Franz WallerThurgau 375Liberal Centre2Catholic Right1Augustin RamspergerRadical Left1Johann Ludwig SulzbergerDemocratic Left1Fridolin AnderwertTicino 383Radical Left3Ticino 393Radical Left2Catholic Right1Michele PedrazziniVaud 404Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Édouard DapplesDemocratic Left1Jules EytelVaud 414Liberal Centre2Radical Left2Vaud 423Radical Left2Democratic Left1John BerneyValais 432Catholic Right2Valais 441Catholic Right1Charles de RivazValais 452Radical Left2Neuchâtel 464Radical Left4Geneva 474Radical Left4Source: Gruner
Council of States
References