Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 30 October 1881. The Radical Left remained the largest group in the National Council, regaining the majority they had lost in 1863.Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation BFS
Electoral system The 145 members of the National Council were elected in 49 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. 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 under the new Federal law concerning the elections of National Council members passed on 3 May 1881. The number of seats was increased from 135 to 145 following the 1880 census, and the number of constituencies from 48 to 49; Bern and Zürich both gained two seats, whilst Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Geneva, Schwyz, Ticino and Vaud all gained one.
Results National Council Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 95.2% and lowest in Schwyz at 28.3%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 15Liberal Centre5Zürich 24Liberal Centre3Democratic Group1Johann Jakob KellerZürich 34Democratic Group4Zürich 43Democratic Group3Bern 55Radical Left5Bern 65Radical Left3Evangelical Right1Otto von BürenLiberal Centre1Jules SchnyderBern 74Radical Left4Bern 84Radical Left4Bern 94Radical Left4Bern 105Radical Left5Lucerne 112Radical Left2Lucerne 121Catholic Right1Josef ZempLucerne 132Catholic Right2Lucerne 142Catholic Right2Uri 151Catholic Right1Josef ArnoldSchwyz 163Catholic Right3Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Nicolaus HermannNidwalden 181Catholic Right1Robert DurrerGlarus 192Liberal Centre1Esajas ZweifelRadical Left1Niklaus TschudiZug 201Catholic Right1Niklaus MoosFribourg 212Radical Left2Fribourg 222Catholic Right2Fribourg 232Catholic Right2Solothurn 244Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Bernhard HammerBasel-Stadt 253Radical Left2Liberal Centre1Johann Rudolf Geigy-MerianBasel-Landschaft 263Radical Left3Schaffhausen 272Radical Left2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Liberal Centre1Radical Left1Johann Conrad SondereggerAppenzell Innerhoden 291Liberal Centre1Karl Justin SondereggerSt. Gallen 304Liberal Centre2Catholic Right1Johann Gebhard LutzEvangelical Right1Carl von GonzenbachSt. Gallen 313Liberal Centre1Rudolf HiltyCatholic Right1Wilhelm GoodDemocratic Group1Carl Theodor CurtiSt. Gallen 323Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1Johann Rudolf MoserGrisons 332Liberal Centre1Simeon BavierEvangelical Right1Hermann J. von SprecherGrisons 342Catholic Right2Grisons 351Radical Left1Andrea BezzolaAargau 363Radical Left3Aargau 374Radical Left2Liberal Centre2Aargau 383Catholic Right2Liberal Centre1Emil WeltiThurgau 395Radical Left3Liberal Centre1Jakob Huldreich BachmannDemocratic Group1Adolf DeucherTicino 402Radical Left2Ticino 415Catholic Right5Vaud 425Radical Left5Vaud 434Radical Left4Vaud 443Radical Left3Valais 452Catholic Right2Valais 461Catholic Right1Maurice EvéquozValais 472Catholic Right2Neuchâtel 485Radical Left5Geneva 494Radical Left4Liberal Centre1Arthur ChenevièreSource: Gruner
Council of States
References