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Dates of National Council Elections since 1848

From 1851 to 1975 the regular elections of the whole of the National Council always took place on the last Sunday in October. Since 1979 they have been held on the penultimate Sunday in October. 1) In the constituencies that use a majority voting system further elections are often required at a later date.

 

 

Year Date Year Date
   
1848  2) 1922 29.10.
1851  26.10. 1925 25.10.
1854 29.10. 1928 28.10.
1857  25.10. 1931 25.10.   4)
1860 28.10. 1935 27.10.
1863  25.10. 1939 29.10.
1866  28.10. 1943 31.10.
1869  31.10. 1947 26.10.
1872  27.10. 1951 28.10.
1875  31.10. 1955 30.10.
1878  27.10. 1959 25.10.
1881 30.10. 1963 27.10.
1884  26.10. 1967 29.10.
1887  30.10. 1971 31.10.
1890  26.10. 1975 26.10.
1893  29.10. 1979 21.10.
1896  25.10. 1983 23.10.
1899 29.10. 1987 18.10.
1902 26.10. 1991 20.10.
1905 29.10. 1995 22.10.
1908 25.10. 1999 24.10.
1911 29.10. 2003 19.10.
1914 25.10. 2007 21.10.
1917 28.10. 2011 23.10.
1919   3) 26.10.

 

1) See Art. 9 of the federal law on the election of members of the National Council of  21.12.1850; Art. 2 of the federal law on the election of members of the National Council of 14.2.1919 and Art. 19 para. 1 of the federal law on political rights of 17.12.1976.
 
2) In 1848 there was no actual date for elections. According to a decision taken by the Diet, the cantons were simply to “hold elections immediately”. These elections had to be held before 6 November 1848 since parliament was to open on that date.
 
3) After the adoption of proportional representation on 13.10.1918, elections were brought forward by one year to 1919 (in compliance with the popular vote taken on 10.8.1919, Swiss Official Gazette 1919 III 93)
 
4) Following a popular vote on 15.3.1931 the term of office for members of the National Council was extended from three to four years.


 
References and Sources

  1. Election year reports by the Federal Council for the National Council on National Council elections from 1887 on (published in the Swiss Official Gazette)
  2. Gruner, Erich et. al.: Elections to the Swiss National Council from 1848 to 1919. Voting rights, electoral system, active participation, behaviour of voters and parties, election issues and election campaigns. Vol. 3, tables, illusrations, maps. Bern, 1978.