At Stake in the Referendum:

• Swiss voters will vote in three nationwide referendums on November 24, 2013. These referendums will focus on the price of the annual motorway tax, the limitation of highest salaries at companies, and a tax credit for parents who take care of their children during the day.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Ueli MAURER[1]
• Head of Government: President Ueli MAURER
• Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung/Assemblée Fédérale/Assemblea Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• Legislative referendums in Switzerland are conducted on the basis of majority vote, with both the majority of people and majority of Cantons approving the referendum. Constitutional referendums and citizens’ initiatives are conducted on the basis of double majority for both votes and the cantonal vote.

Main Provisions in the Referendum

• Swiss voters will decide in a legislative referendum whether or not to approve an increase in the annual motorway tax (Vignette) from 40 francs to 100 francs.
• Swiss voters will decide in a legislative referendum whether or not to approve a constitutional amendment requiring companies to limit their highest salary to twelve times the lowest salary paid by the same company.
• Swiss voters will decide in a legislative referendum whether or not to approve a constitutional amendment allowing parents who take care of their children during the daytime to benefit from tax exemptions at least equal to those given to parents who entrust the care of their children to others.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 8,089,346 (2013)
• Registered Voters: 5,139,055 (March 2012)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,091,510 (2013)

·         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: 57 (National Council); 9 (Council of States) following the 2011 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: 1,213,401 (est.)