SWITZERLAND

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
 
Chamber:
  Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale
 
Electoral Law:
  17 December 1976
  Last amendment: 22/03/1991
 
Constituencies:
  26 multi- or single-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. The number of seats per constituency varies according to population.
 
Voting System:
  Mixed system:
- proportional representation using the Hagenbach-Bischoff method, with remaining seats being distributed according to the rule of highest average, in multi-member constituencies. Each elector can vote for a list as it stands or modify it by crossing out or repeating names appearing on it; he can moreover split his vote between different lists ("panachage") or select names from different lists in forming his own on a blank ballot paper
- single majority system for 5 single-member constituencies (two cantons, three half-cantons)
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the "next-in-line" candidates on the same party list or through by-elections in single-member constituencies.
Voting is compulsory in a small number of cantons, where those abstaining without a justifiable reason are subject to a small fine.
 
Voter requirements:
  - Age: 18 years
- Swiss citizenship
- Disqualifications: insanity
 
Eligibility:
  - Every citizen having the right to vote
 
Incompatibilities:
  - Members of the Federal Council
- Federal judges
- Federal civil servants
- High-ranking army officials
 
Candidacy requirements:
  - Nomination by political parties
- Support of 100 electors for each party list in cantons electing 2 to 10 seats, 200 in cantons electing 11 to 20 seats and of 400 in cantons electing more than 20 seats.


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General Information | Last Elections
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