1896 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 25 October 1896. The Free Democratic Party retained its majority in the National Council.Elections to the National Council 1848–1917: Distribution of seats by party or political orientation BFS

Electoral system The 147 members of the National Council were elected in 52 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

Results Voter turnout was highest in Nidwalden at 90.3% (higher than the 89.3% in Schaffhausen where voting was compulsory) and lowest in Obwalden at 21.4%.

By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 16Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre2Democratic Group1Jakob VogelsangerZürich 24Liberal Centre3Free Democratic Party1Heinrich HessZürich 34Free Democratic Party3Democratic Group1Albert KündigZürich 43Free Democratic Party2Liberal Centre1Heinrich SteinemannBern 55Free Democratic Party5Bern 65Free Democratic Party4Evangelical Right1Edmund von SteigerBern 74Free Democratic Party4Bern 84Free Democratic Party4Bern 94Free Democratic Party4Bern 103Free Democratic Party3Bern 112Catholic Right2Lucerne 122Free Democratic Party2Lucerne 133Catholic Right3Lucerne 142Catholic Right2Uri 151Catholic Right1Franz SchmidSchwyz 163Catholic Right3Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Peter Anton MingNidwalden 181Catholic Right1Karl NiederbergerGlarus 192Democratic Group1Kaspar SchindlerFree Democratic Party1Rudolf GallatiZug 201Free Democratic Party1Klemens ItenFribourg 212Liberal Centre1Henri SchallerFree Democratic Party1Constant DinichertFribourg 222Catholic Right2Fribourg 232Catholic Right2Solothurn 244Free Democratic Party3Catholic Right1Joseph Anton GlutzBasel-Stadt 254Free Democratic Party2Liberal Centre1Isaak Iselin-SarasinSocial Democratic Party1Eugen WullschlegerBasel-Landschaft 263Free Democratic Party2Bauern- und Arbeiterbund1Walter MeyerSchaffhausen 272Free Democratic Party2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Free Democratic Party3Appenzell Innerhoden 291Liberal Centre1Karl Justin SondereggerSt. Gallen 302Democratic Group1J. A. Scherrer-FüllemannFree Democratic Party1Karl Emil WildSt. Gallen 312Catholic Right1Johann Gebhard LutzLiberal Centre1Christoph ToblerSt. Gallen 322Catholic Right2St. Gallen 333Free Democratic Party2Democratic Group1Carl Theodor CurtiSt. Gallen 342Catholic Right2Grisons 352Liberal Centre1Peter Theophil BühlerDemocratic Group1Matthäus RischGrisons 362Catholic Right1Caspar DecurtinsLiberal Centre1Alfred von PlantaGrisons 371Liberal Centre1Thomas von AlbertiniAargau 383Free Democratic Party3Aargau 393Free Democratic Party3Aargau 401Catholic Right1Jakob NietlispachAargau 413Liberal Centre2Free Democratic Party1Josef JägerThurgau 425Liberal Centre3Free Democratic Party2Ticino 432Free Democratic Party2Ticino 444Free Democratic Party4Vaud 455Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre2Vaud 464Free Democratic Party4Vaud 473Free Democratic Party2Liberal Centre1Louis-Charles DelarageazValais 482Catholic Right2Valais 491Catholic Right1Joseph Kuntschen Sr.Valais 502Catholic Right1Henri BioleyFree Democratic Party1Émile GaillardNeuchâtel 515Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre1Jules CalameGeneva 525Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre1Gustave AdorSource: Gruner

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