Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 28 October 1866. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council.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 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 86.3% and lowest in the Canton of Schwyz at 18.7%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 14Liberal Centre3Democratic Left1Hans Rudolf ZanggerZürich 23Liberal Centre3Zürich 33Liberal Centre2Democratic Left1Johann Jakob SulzerZürich 43Democratic Left2Liberal Centre1Rudolf BenzBern 54Radical Left4Bern 64Evangelical Right4Bern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 93Radical Left3Bern 104Radical Left4Lucerne 112Liberal Centre1Josef Martin KnüselRadical Left1Josef BucherLucerne 122Catholic Right2Lucerne 133Radical Left3Uri 141Catholic Right1Josef ArnoldSchwyz 152Catholic Right1Karl StygerLiberal Centre1Josef Anton EberleObwalden 161Catholic Right1Simon EttlinNidwalden 171Catholic Right1Alois WyrschGlarus 182Liberal Centre1Joachim HeerRadical Left1Peter Jenny IIZug 191Liberal Centre1Wolfgang HenggelerFribourg 203Catholic Right3Fribourg 212Catholic Right2Solothurn 223Radical Left2Catholic Right1Franz BünzliBasel-Stadt 232Liberal Centre1Johann Jakob StehlinRadical Left1Wilhelm KleinBasel-Landschaft 243Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Johann Jakob BaaderSchaffhausen 252Liberal Centre1Friedrich Peyer im HofDemocratic Left1Wilhelm JoosAppenzell Ausserrhoden 262Liberal Centre1Adolf Friedrich ZürcherRadical Left1Johann Ulrich MeyerAppenzell Innerhoden 271Catholic Right1Alois BrogerSt. Gallen 283Liberal Centre1Johann Baptist WederCatholic Right1Johannes ZündtDemocratic Left1Friedrich BernetSt. Gallen 293Democratic Left2Liberal Centre1Josef Leonhard BernoldSt. Gallen 303Radical Left1Democratic Left1Georg Friedrich AndereggGrisons 312Radical Left1Johann Gaudenz von SalisLiberal Centre1Simeon BavierGrisons 322Catholic Right1Johann R. von ToggenburgRadical Left1Alois de LatourGrisons 331Liberal Centre1Andreas Rudolf von PlantaAargau 343Liberal Centre3Aargau 354Liberal Centre3Radical Left1Peter SuterAargau 363Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Fridolin SchneiderThurgau 375Democratic Left2Radical Left1Johann Ludwig SulzbergerLiberal Centre1Johann MessmerCatholic Right1Augustin RamspergerTicino 383Radical Left2Catholic Right1Giovanni PolarTicino 393Catholic Right1Michele PedrazziniLiberal Centre1Luigi RuscaRadical Left1Giovanni JauchVaud 404Radical Left2Liberal Centre2Vaud 414Radical Left2Liberal Centre2Vaud 423Radical Left3Valais 432Catholic Right2Valais 441Catholic Right1Maurice EvéquozValais 452Radical Left2Neuchâtel 464Radical Left4Geneva 474Liberal Centre4Source: Gruner
Council of States
References