1902 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 26 October 1902. 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 167 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 Federal law concerning the constituencies for the elections of National Council members passed on 4 June 1902, which reduced the number of constituencies from 52 to 49. Following the 1900 census the number of seats was increased from 147 to 167; Zürich gained five seats, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Geneva, St. Gallen and Vaud all gained two seats, whilst Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Ticino, Thurgau and Valais all gained one. A referendum on introducing proportional representation and direct elections for the Federal Council had been held in 1900, but both proposals were rejected by voters.

Results Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 85.8% and lowest in Obwalden at 21.4%.

By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 19Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre2Social Democratic Party2Democratic Group1Friedrich FritschiZürich 25Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre2Zürich 35Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Friedrich StuderZürich 43Free Democratic Party3Bern 55Free Democratic Party5Bern 66Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre2Bern 74Free Democratic Party4Bern 84Free Democratic Party3Bern People's Party1Ulrich DürrenmattBern 94Free Democratic Party4Bern 103Free Democratic Party3Bern 113Catholic Right2Free Democratic Party1Louis JoliatLucerne 123Free Democratic Party3Lucerne 132Catholic Right3Lucerne 142Catholic Right2Uri 151Catholic Right1Franz SchmidSchwyz 163Catholic Right3Obwalden 171Catholic Right1Peter Anton MingNidwalden 181Catholic Right1Karl NiederbergerGlarus 192Democratic Group1Eduard BlumerFree Democratic Party1Rudolf GallatiZug 201Free Democratic Party1Klemens ItenFribourg 212Catholic Right1Louis de DiesbachFree Democratic Party1Constant DinichertFribourg 222Catholic Right2Fribourg 232Catholic Right2Solothurn 245Free Democratic Party4Catholic Right1Franz Josef HänggiBasel-Stadt 256Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre2Social Democratic Party1Alfred BrüstleinBasel-Landschaft 263Free Democratic Party2Bauern- und Arbeiterbund1Stephan GschwindSchaffhausen 272Free Democratic Party2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Free Democratic Party3Appenzell Innerhoden 291Liberal Centre1Karl Justin SondereggerSt. Gallen 303Free Democratic Party1Karl Emil WildDemocratic Group1J. A. Scherrer-FüllemannSocial Democratic Party1Paul BrandtSt. Gallen 313Catholic Right2Social Democratic Party1Heinrich ScherrerSt. Gallen 322Catholic Right2St. Gallen 333Free Democratic Party3St. Gallen 342Catholic Right2Grisons 355Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre1Alfred von PlantaCatholic Right1Caspar DecurtinsAargau 363Free Democratic Party3Aargau 373Free Democratic Party3Aargau 381Catholic Right1Jakob NietlispachAargau 393Liberal Centre1Emil Albert BaldingerCatholic Right1Franz Xaver EggspühlerFree Democratic Party1Josef JägerThurgau 406Free Democratic Party5Democratic Group1Emil HofmannTicino 414Free Democratic Party3Catholic Right1Giovanni LuratiTicino 423Free Democratic Party2Catholic Right1Giuseppe MottaVaud 437Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre3Vaud 444Free Democratic Party4Vaud 453Free Democratic Party2Liberal Centre1Louis-Charles DelarageazValais 464Catholic Right4Valais 472Free Democratic Party1Camille DéfayesCatholic Right1Henri BioleyNeuchâtel 486Free Democratic Party5Liberal Centre1Jules CalameGeneva 497Liberal Centre4Free Democratic Party2Catholic Right1Théodore FontanaSource: Gruner

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