At stake in this Referendum:

• Whether to adopt biometric passports and travel documents in compliance with the Schengen Agreement.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ *
• Head of Government: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ
• Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung, Assemblée Fédérale) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat, Conseil des Etats, or Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats* and the National Council (Nationalrat, Conseil National, or Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats**.

* The Federal Presidency rotates among members of the Federal Council, which is the formal chief of state.

* Single-member districts correspond to half-cantons. The electoral system is first-past-the-post. Two-seat districts correspond to full cantons. The electoral system is MNTV.

** Seats are apportioned to each canton or half-canton in proportion to its population. Voters have the option of panachage. In single-member districts, this is effectively a first-past-the-post system.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Approval of the introduction of biometric passports
• Initiative for complementary medicine

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 7,743,831 (2009)
• Registered Voters: 4,891,363 (February 2009)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,936,174 (2009)

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)

·         Has Switzerland ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 59 (National Council); 10 (Council of States) following the 2007 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 3 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Switzerland ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (15 April 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,161,574 (est.)