At Stake in this Election:  

In March 2026, Swiss voters are deciding on 4 items:  

Cash initiative and counter proposal 

• Referendum Text in German:  

• • Initiative: Wollen Sie die Volksinitiative “Ja zu einer unabhängigen, freien Schweizer Währung mit Münzen oder Banknoten (Bargeld ist Freiheit)” annehmen?
  • Counter proposal: Wollen Sie den Bundesbeschluss vom 17. September 2025 über die schweizerische Währung und die Bargeldversorgung annehmen? 

• Referendum Text in English (Informal Translation) 

• • Initiative: Do you want to accept the popular initiative “Yes to an independent, free Swiss currency with coins or banknotes (Cash is freedom)”?  
  • Counter proposal: Do you want to accept the Federal Decree of September 17, 2025, on the Swiss currency and cash supply? 

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) initiative:  

• Referendum Text in German: Wollen Sie die Volksinitiative "200 Franken sind genug! (SRG-Initiative)" annehmen? 

• Referendum Text in English (Informal Translation): Do you want to accept the popular initiative "200 francs is enough! (SRG Initiative)?” 

Climate fund initiative 

• Referendum Text in German: Wollen Sie die Volksinitiative „Für eine gerechte Energie- und Klimapolitik: Investieren für Wohlstand, Arbeit und Umwelt (Klimafonds-Initiative)“ annehmen? 

• Referendum Text in English (Informal Translation): Do you want to accept the popular initiative “For a fair energy and climate policy: Investing for prosperity, jobs and the environment (Climate Fund Initiative)”? 

Individual taxation: 

• Referendum Text in German: Wollen Sie das Bundesgesetz vom 20. Juni 2025 über die Individualbesteuerung annehmen? 

• Referendum Text in English (Informal Translation): Do you want to adopt the Federal Act of 20 June 2025 on Individual Taxation? 

Government Structure: 

• Chief of State: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026) 

• Head of Government: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026) 

• Assembly: bicameral Federal Assembly, comprised of the 200-seat National Council and the 46-seat Council of States. 

Electoral System: 

• The President is elected by the Council of States and must be a member of the Council of States. The President serves a 1-year term and cannot serve in consecutive years.   

• Members of the National Council are directly elected via a proportional representation system. Each Canton is guaranteed at least one seat. Members serve 4-year terms.   

• Members of the Council of States are directly elected by the Cantons. Each Canton determines its own electoral procedure for the seat. All Cantons are allocated two representatives, except for Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, which are allocated one. Members serve 4-year terms.   

Last Election: 

The last referendum was held on November 30, 2025, which covered two provisions (a citizen service initiative and a taxation initiative). Both provisions were rejected. 

Information for Voters: 

Popular vote on 8 March 2026 (in English) 

Country Context: 

• Population: 9,005,582 (2024 estimate) 

• Registered Voters: 5,620,065 (2025 estimate) 

• V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index Score: 0.894 (2024) 

• V-Dem Regimes of the World Classification: Liberal Democracy (2024) 

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.970, Very High, Rank 2  

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 4,531,829 (2024 estimate) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 23 January 1987, Ratified 27 March 1997 

• Gender Quota: No legislated quotas, some parties have adopted voluntary quotas. 

• Female Candidates in this election: n/a 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 78 out of 200 (39%) in the lower house and 15 out of 45 (33.3%) in the upper house 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 9.9 (2023 estimate) 

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Ascended 14 April 2014 

• Projected population with a disability: 1,440,893 (2024 estimate) 

IFES Resources: 

• ElectionJudgments: Yes, 2 judgments