1911 Swiss federal election

Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 29 October 1911. 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 189 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 constituencies for the election of National Council members of passed on 23 June 1911. Following the 1910 census the number of seats was increased from 167 to 189, although the number of constituencies remained the same. Bern and Zürich both gained three seats, Aargau, St. Gallen and Vaud gained two, whilst, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Fribourg, Geneva, Graubünden, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Ticino and Thurgau all gained one. A referendum on introducing proportional representation had been held in October 1910, and although it was approved by a majority of cantons, it was narrowly rejected by voters.

Results Voter turnout was highest in Aargau at 83.1% (higher than the 80% in Schaffhausen, where voting was compulsory) and lowest in Obwalden at 21.1%.

By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 17Free Democratic Party7Zürich 25Social Democratic Party5Zürich 35Free Democratic Party3Liberal Centre2Zürich 45Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Friedrich StuderZürich 53Free Democratic Party3Bern 66Free Democratic Party6Bern 77Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre2Social Democratic Party1Gustav MüllerBern 84Free Democratic Party4Bern 94Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party1August RikliBern 105Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Johann NäherBern 113Free Democratic Party3Bern 123Catholic Right2Free Democratic Party1Henri SimoninLucerne 133Free Democratic Party3Lucerne 142Catholic Right3Lucerne 153Catholic Right2Uri 161Catholic Right1Josef FurrerSchwyz 173Catholic Right2Free Democratic Party1Martin SteineggerObwalden 181Catholic Right1Peter Anton MingNidwalden 191Catholic Right1Karl NiederbergerGlarus 202Democratic Group2Zug 211Free Democratic Party1Hermann StadlinFribourg 222Free Democratic Party1Hermann LiechtiCatholic Right1Eugène DescheneauxFribourg 235Catholic Right4Free Democratic Party1A.-F.-L. CaillerSolothurn 246Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Hans AffolterCatholic Right1Siegfried HartmannBasel-Stadt 257Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party2Liberal Centre2Basel-Landschaft 264Free Democratic Party3Democratic Group1Albert SchwanderSchaffhausen 272Free Democratic Party2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Free Democratic Party2Social Democratic Party1Howard EugsterAppenzell Innerhoden 291Catholic Right1Adolf SteubleSt. Gallen 304Free Democratic Party3Democratic Group1J. A. Scherrer-FüllemannSt. Gallen 314Catholic Right2Free Democratic Party1Ernst SchmidheinyDemocratic Group1Heinrich Otto WeberSt. Gallen 323Free Democratic Party3St. Gallen 332Catholic Right2St. Gallen 342Catholic Right2Grisons 356Free Democratic Party4Catholic Right1Johann SchmidLiberal Centre1Alfred von PlantaAargau 363Free Democratic Party3Aargau 374Free Democratic Party4Aargau 381Catholic Right1Jakob NietlispachAargau 394Catholic Right2Circle of Rhine Party1Josef JägerFree Democratic Party1Gustav Adolf UrsprungThurgau 407Free Democratic Party5Catholic Right1Alfons von StrengDemocratic Group1Emil HofmannTicino 414Free Democratic Party3Catholic Right1Giovanni LuratiTicino 424Free Democratic Party2Liberal Centre1Francesco BalliCatholic Right1Giuseppe MottaVaud 438Free Democratic Party5Liberal Centre3Vaud 445Free Democratic Party4Liberal Centre1Armand PiguetVaud 453Free Democratic Party3Valais 464Catholic Right4Valais 472Catholic Right1Maurice PellissierFree Democratic Party1Eugène de LavallazNeuchâtel 487Free Democratic Party5Social Democratic Party1Charles NaineLiberal Centre1Jules CalameGeneva 498Free Democratic Party5Liberal Centre1Gustave AdorSocial Democratic Party1Jean SiggCatholic Right1Firmin OdySource: Gruner

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