so-called referendum obligatorium). Ordinary legislation may also be submitted to a national vote (referendum) at the request of not less than 30,000 voters or of eight cantons unless a decree is declared by the Federal Legislature to be urgent and therefore temporarily exempt. At the cantonal level, in eight of the cantons, all laws must be submitted to a vote (referendum). In seven others a vote must be held if a specified number of citizens demand it. In a further three cantons certain laws must be submitted to a vote and others must be submitted if a specified proportion of citizens demand it.
In national referenda, the national authorities provide the electorate with basic information. The various campaign groups who furnish additional infor- mation material do not receive support from the public exchequer for that purpose. At the cantonal level local authorities provide information on the referendum issue.
The question put is usually one to which the voter is asked to reply Yes or No. If the Federal Government disagree with the intent of a proposal made by a certain number of citizens a counter-proposal may be submitted to a vote at the same time. Again a simple Yes answer (for the proposal or the counter- proposal) or No answer (for one or both proposals) is required.
Constitutional changes must be approved by a majority of all votes cast and by a majority of cantons. For the adoption or rejection of legislation at national and cantonal level a simple majority of votes cast is sufficient. Votes are counted at communal and cantonal level (and at national level in national referenda) and published at cantonal (and national) level.
Postal votes are only allowed for those in military service. Certain categories of sick or invalided persons may vote by proxy. These results are published as an integral part of the overall vote.
United States of America
The Federal Constitution makes no provision for referenda, but thirty-nine States provide for referenda on proposals passed by the State legislatures or at local government levels, and twenty-one States for legislative initiatives by a percentage of voters which varies from State to State. Both devices may apply to constitutional amendment as well as to ordinary legislation, but at no level of government can the scope of a referendum exceed the competence of the legislative body concerned.
Those responsible for proposing an initiative, often organised pressure groups, are also responsible for their own campaign costs. There are no limits on expen- diture. The cost of balloting, however, is generally borne by the State or muni- cipality, and in some States, eg in Oregon and California, the State provides official literature on referenda issues.
Proposals submitted to the electorate may be complex, as in the 23-point environmental plan put to the vote in the 1972 referendum on pollution in California, but the answer required is usually Yes or No. Referenda are generally held at the same time as the biennial congressional and local elections and normal facilities for absentee (postal) voting are provided.
Majorities required vary from State to State and can also vary according to the issue (amendments to State constitutions sometimes require more than a simple majority). Referenda votes are counted at precinct level, but the official results are normally reported by country and, in a few instances, by city. The overall figures for spoilt votes are also published by some States.
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