Polity Atlas
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Instruments of direct democracy: popular initiative and optional referendum

ch-info (Swiss Confederation) · 2026

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Accessed
2026-09-01
Reliability notes
Figures as of 31 December 2025.

Claims citing this source

1 claims
EstablishedSwitzerland's optional referendum dates from 1874 (50,000 signatures within 100 days) and the federal popular initiative for partial revision from 1891 (100,000 signatures within 18 months). By end-2025, 26 of 237 initiatives voted had been accepted.