Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 27 October 1872. 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 135 members of the National Council were elected in 48 single- and multi-member constituencies 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. For the first time the National Council was directly-elected in its entirety; in previous elections the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri had their National Council members elected by the Landsgemeinde. However, an electoral law passed in 1872 required secret voting for federal elections and a polling station to be opened in every municipality in order to avoid manipulation in the open Landsgemeinde.Nohlen & Stöver, p1887 The electoral law also changed the calculation of a candidate's majority from including valid and invalid votes to only valid votes.Nohlen & Stöver, pp1886–1887
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 Following the 1869 elections the number of seats was increased from 128 to 137, with the members now elected from 48 constituencies, increased from 47. Bern gained two seats, whilst Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, St Gallen and Zürich gained one each.
Results
National Council Voter turnout was highest in the Canton of Uri at 91.3% (higher than the 75.2% who voted in Schaffhausen, where voting was compulsory) and lowest in Schwyz at 39.8%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 15Liberal Centre5Zürich 23Democratic Left2Liberal Centre1Johann Heinrich FierzZürich 33Democratic Left3Zürich 43Democratic Left3Bern 55Radical Left5Bern 64Evangelical Right2Radical Left2Bern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 93Radical Left3Bern 105Radical Left5Lucerne 112Liberal Centre2Lucerne 121Catholic Right1Josef ZempLucerne 132Catholic Right2Lucerne 142Catholic Right2Uri 151Catholic Right1Josef ArnoldSchwyz 162Catholic Right2Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Alois ReinertNidwalden 181Catholic Right1Walter ZelgerGlarus 192Liberal Centre1Joachim HeerRadical Left1Niklaus TschudiZug 201Catholic Right1Alois SchwerzmannFribourg 213Catholic Right3Fribourg 223Catholic Right3Solothurn 234Radical Left4Basel-Stadt 242Radical Left1Wilhelm KleinLiberal Centre1Johann Jakob StehlinBasel-Landschaft 253Radical Left2Democratic Left1Emil FreySchaffhausen 262Liberal Centre1Friedrich Peyer im HofDemocratic Left1Wilhelm JoosAppenzell Ausserrhoden 272Liberal Centre1Adolf Friedrich ZürcherRadical Left1Johannes HohlAppenzell Innerhoden 281Catholic Right1Alois BrogerSt. Gallen 294Liberal Centre2Democratic Left2St. Gallen 303Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Rudolf HiltySt. Gallen 313Liberal Centre1Georg Friedrich AndereggCatholic Right1Johann Fridolin MüllerRadical Left1Johann M. HungerbühlerGrisons 322Liberal Centre1Simeon BavierEvangelical Right1Hermann Jakob von SprecherGrisons 332Liberal Centre1Johann Anton Casparis Sr.Catholic Right1Johann R. von ToggenburgGrisons 341Radical Left1Johann Albert RomediAargau 353Liberal Centre2Radical Left1Arnold KünzliAargau 364Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Hans WeberAargau 373Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1K. F. S. FahrländerThurgau 385Democratic Left4Liberal Centre1Johann MessmerTicino 393Radical Left2Catholic Right1Massimiliano MagattiTicino 403Catholic Right2Radical Left1Giovanni JauchVaud 414Liberal Centre2Radical Left2Vaud 424Liberal Centre2Radical Left2Vaud 433Radical Left3Valais 442Catholic Right2Valais 451Catholic Right1Maurice EvéquozValais 462Catholic Right1Louis GrossRadical Left1Louis BarmanNeuchâtel 475Radical Left5Geneva 484Radical Left4Source: Gruner
Election re-runs ConstituencySeatsDate of re-runPartySeatswonElected membersTicino 4036 April 1873Catholic Right2Radical Left1Giovanni JauchTicino 393Radical Left2Catholic Right1Massimiliano MagattiTicino 403Catholic Right3Source: Gruner
Council of States
References