A political-economic analysis of Swiss referendums 1848 to 2022: turnout, acceptance rates and the double-majority threshold

Abstract This paper explores the evolution of voter turnout, acceptance rates, and the double majority requirement in Swiss national referendums from 1848 to 2022. Given the extensive time frame, the study highlights key developments such as the expansion of voting rights for women, the lowering of the voting age to 18, the varying population growth across cantons (the electoral districts relevant for the double majority), and the evolving costs associated with referendums over time, including the signature requirement relative to the population. Through an analysis of relevant figures and data, supported by t-tests, we discover that, despite these important changes and a substantial rise in the number of referendums in the past three decades, voter turnout, the acceptance of proposals, and the thresholds for the double majority clause have remained remarkably stable.