Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978.[ 1] The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved).[ 1] The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).[ 2]
A tenth referendum was held on 24 September on creating a new canton named Jura , which was approved. The final set of referendums were held on 3 December on a resolution on dairy farming (approved), an animal protection law (approved), a federal law on security (rejected) and a federal law on vocational education (approved).[ 2]
February: Popular initiative on road making [ edit ]
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
696,501
38.7
0
0
0
Against
1,104,292
61.3
19
6
22
Blank votes
41,857
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,107
–
–
–
–
Total
1,842,057
100
19
6
22
Registered voters/turnout
3,821,750
48.2
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
February: Amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
1,192,144
65.6
Against
625,566
34.4
Blank votes
26,482
–
Invalid votes
1,947
–
Total
1,846,139
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,821,750
48.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
February: Lowering the retirement age [ edit ]
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
377,017
20.6
0
0
0
Against
1,451,220
79.4
19
6
22
Blank votes
17,191
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
1,811
–
–
–
–
Total
1,847,239
100
19
6
22
Registered voters/turnout
3,821,750
48.3
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
February: Constitutional amendment on the economic cycle [ edit ]
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
1,172,130
68.4
19
6
22
Against
542,634
31.6
0
0
0
Blank votes
116,578
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
3,025
–
–
–
–
Total
1,834,367
100
19
6
22
Registered voters/turnout
3,821,750
48.0
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Choice
Votes
%
For
886,376
47.9
Against
963,862
52.1
Blank votes
28,392
–
Invalid votes
1,324
–
Total
1,879,954
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,835,650
49.0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
May: Amendment to the tariff law [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
971,908
54.8
Against
801,167
45.2
Blank votes
92,832
–
Invalid votes
2,084
–
Total
1,867,991
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,835,650
48.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
May: Federal law banning abortion [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
559,103
31.2
Against
1,233,149
68.8
Blank votes
79,717
–
Invalid votes
2,543
–
Total
1,874,512
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,835,650
48.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Choice
Votes
%
For
792,458
43.3
Against
1,037,020
56.7
Blank votes
44,837
–
Invalid votes
1,566
–
Total
1,875,881
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,835,650
48.9
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
May: Popular initiative on 12 car-free Sundays a year [ edit ]
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
678,162
36.3
0
0
0
Against
1,191,204
63.7
19
6
22
Blank votes
13,624
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
1,367
–
–
–
–
Total
1,884,357
100
19
6
22
Registered voters/turnout
3,835,650
49.1
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Creation of Jura canton [ edit ]
Choice
Popular vote
Cantons
Votes
%
Full
Half
Total
For
1,309,841
82.3
19
6
22
Against
281,873
17.7
0
0
0
Blank votes
24,377
–
–
–
–
Invalid votes
2,372
–
–
–
–
Total
1,618,463
100
19
6
22
Registered voters/turnout
3,848,961
42.0
–
–
–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Dairy farming [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
1,092,586
68.5
Against
502,405
31.5
Blank votes
66,812
–
Invalid votes
2,601
–
Total
1,664,404
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,857,162
43.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Animal protection law [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
1,339,252
81.7
Against
300,045
18.3
Blank votes
27,717
–
Invalid votes
1,902
–
Total
1,668,916
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,857,162
43.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Federal law on security [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
723,719
44.0
Against
920,312
56.0
Blank votes
23,294
–
Invalid votes
1,914
–
Total
1,669,239
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,857,162
43.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Federal law on vocational education and training [ edit ]
Choice
Votes
%
For
902,379
56.0
Against
707,746
44.0
Blank votes
52,261
–
Invalid votes
2,360
–
Total
1,664,912
100
Registered voters/turnout
3,857,162
43.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
^ a b Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook , pp1925–1926 ISBN 9783832956097
^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1926