Seven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2017. Polling took place on 12 February, 21 May and 24 September,Daten der nächsten eidgenössischen Volksabstimmungen Die Schweizer Behörden whilst no referendum was scheduled for the November date.Pas de votation populaire fédérale le 26 novembre 2017 Federal Council of Switzerland, 5 July 2017
February referendums Three referendums were held on 12 February: One on the federal decree of 30 September 2016, to allow easier naturalisation of third generation immigrants One on the federal decree of 30 September 2016, to create a fund for national roads and urban infrastructure One on the federal law of 17 June 2016, to overhaul the corporate tax code to attract and retain international firms
Results QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalf1,499,62760.4982,84439.620,9792,503,4505,344,18646.815452Road and infrastructure fund1,503,74661.9923,78338.163,7912,491,32046.620600Corporate tax code989,31140.91,428,16259.173,3122,490,78546.6 Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland 1, 2, 3
May referendum
One referendum was held on 21 May on whether to accept the new Energy Act, establishing the Energy Strategy 2050, which seeks to phase out nuclear energy and increase renewable energy and energy efficiency.Energy strategy 2050, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (page visited on 21 May 2017). The plan was opposed by the Swiss People's Party, which launched the optional referendum against it. The Energy Act was approved by 58% of voters.
QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutResultVotes%Votes%Energy Act1,322,26358.2949,05341.825,9802,297,2965,356,53842.9Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland
September referendums On 24 September referendums were held on: A Federal Decree on Food Security A Federal Decree on Additional Funding for OASI Pensions A Federal Act on the 2020 Pension Reforms
The latter two referendums were related, and the Federal Act on the 2020 Pension Reforms would only have gone into effect if the proposed VAT increase was also accepted by voters. The pension reform would have raised the women's retirement age to 65. The proposed reforms were supported by centre and left-of-centre parties and opposed by right-of-centre parties such as the FDP.The Liberals and the Swiss People's Party.
QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalvotesRegisteredvotersTurnoutCantons forCantons againstResultVotes%Votes%FullHalfFullHalfFood security1,943,18078.7524,91921.363,1102,531,2095,372,74847.120600Additional funding for OASI pensions1,254,79550.01,257,15650.034,4352,546,38647.4911152020 pension reforms1,186,20347.31,320,95252.738,7422,545,89747.4 Source: Federal Chancellery of Switzerland 1, 2, 3
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