Federal elections were held in Switzerland on 28 October 1917. 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 They were the last elections held under the majoritarian system; following a referendum in 1918 in which two-thirds of voters voted for the introduction of proportional representation, the electoral system was changed and early elections held in 1919.
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
Results Voter turnout was highest in Schaffhausen (where voting was compulsory) at 86.8% and lowest in Uri at 23.4%.
By constituency ConstituencySeatsPartySeatswonElected membersZürich 17Free Democratic Party7Zürich 25Social Democratic Party5Zürich 35Free Democratic Party4Liberal Party1Johann Rudolf AmslerZürich 45Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Friedrich StuderZürich 53Democratic Group2Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents1Friedrich BoppBern 66Free Democratic Party6Bern 77Social Democratic Party3Free Democratic Party3Liberal Party1Fritz BurrenBern 84Free Democratic Party4Bern 94Free Democratic Party2Social Democratic Party2Bern 105Free Democratic Party4Social Democratic Party1Arnold KnellwolfBern 113Social Democratic Party2Conservative People's Party1Xavier JobinBern 123Conservative People's Party2Social Democratic Party1Maurice GoetschelLucerne 133Free Democratic Party3Lucerne 142Conservative People's Party3Lucerne 153Conservative People's Party3Uri 161Free Democratic Party1Martin GammaSchwyz 173Conservative People's Party2Free Democratic Party1Martin SteineggerObwalden 181Conservative People's Party1Peter Anton MingNidwalden 191Conservative People's Party1Hans von Matt Jr.Glarus 202Democratic Group1Eduard BlumerFree Democratic Party1Heinrich JennyZug 211Free Democratic Party1Hermann StadlinFribourg 222Conservative People's Party1Eugène DescheneauxFree Democratic Party1Hermann LiechtiFribourg 235Conservative People's Party4Free Democratic Party1A.-F.-L. CaillerSolothurn 246Conservative People's Party2Free Democratic Party2Social Democratic Party2Basel-Stadt 257Free Democratic Party2Liberal Party1Paul SpeiserParty of Farmers, Traders and Independents1Rudolf GelpkeDemocratic Group1Karl-Oskar SchärSocial Democratic Party1Johannes FreiConservative People's Party1Ernst FeigenwinterBasel-Landschaft 264Free Democratic Party3Independent1Heinrich StrubSchaffhausen 272Free Democratic Party2Appenzell Ausserrhoden 283Free Democratic Party2Social Democratic Party1Howard EugsterAppenzell Innerhoden 291Conservative People's Party1Adolf SteubleSt. Gallen 304Free Democratic Party3Democratic Group1J. A. Scherrer-FüllemannSt. Gallen 314Conservative People's Party2Democratic Group1Heinrich Otto WeberFree Democratic Party1Ernst SchmidheinySt. Gallen 323Free Democratic Party3St. Gallen 332Conservative People's Party2St. Gallen 342Conservative People's Party2Grisons 356Free Democratic Party4Conservative People's Party2Aargau 363Free Democratic Party3Aargau 374Free Democratic Party4Aargau 381Conservative People's Party1Jakob NietlispachAargau 394Conservative People's Party2Free Democratic Party2Thurgau 407Free Democratic Party4Democratic Group1Emil HofmannConservative People's Party1Alfons von StrengParty of Farmers, Traders and Independents1Carl EigenmannTicino 414Free Democratic Party3Conservative People's Party1Antonio Luigi RivaTicino 424Free Democratic Party2Conservative People's Party2Vaud 438Free Democratic Party5Liberal Party3Vaud 445Free Democratic Party4Liberal Party1Armand PiguetVaud 453Free Democratic Party2Liberal Party1Jean YersinValais 464Conservative People's Party4Valais 472Conservative People's Party1Jules TissièresFree Democratic Party1Eugène de LavallazNeuchâtel 487Free Democratic Party3Liberal Party2Social Democratic Party2Geneva 498Liberal Party3Free Democratic Party3Social Democratic Party1Jean SiggConservative People's Party1Firmin OdySource: Gruner
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