Twelve referendums were held in Switzerland in 1985.[ 1] The first four were held on 10 March on abolishing primary school fees (approved), abolishing the government contribution to healthcare spending (approved), a federal resolution on education fees (rejected) and a popular initiative on extending paid leave (rejected).[ 1] The next set of four was held on 9 June on the "right to life" popular initiative (rejected), abolishing the cantonal share of profits from banks' stamp duty (approved), a federal resolution on the taxation raised from the sale of spirits (approved), and the abolition of grants for the self-supply of breadstuffs (approved).[ 2]
A further three referendums were held on 22 September on a popular initiative to co-ordinate the start of the school year (approved), a federal resolution on giving small and medium enterprises an advantage in cases on innovations (rejected), and amendments to the Swiss Civil Code (approved).[ 2] The final referendum was held on 1 December on a popular initiative to ban vivisection , which was rejected.[ 2]
March: Abolition of primary school fees [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 802,882 58.5 15 6 18 Against 570,221 41.5 5 0 5 Blank votes 46,403 – – – – Invalid votes 1,932 – – – – Total 1,421,438 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,134,052 34.4 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 726,781 53.0 10 6 13 Against 644,649 47.0 10 0 10 Blank votes 48,766 – – – – Invalid votes 1,951 – – – – Total 1,422,147 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,134,052 34.4 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
March: Education fees [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 651,854 47.6 7 3 8.5 Against 716,717 52.4 13 3 14.5 Blank votes 51,614 – – – – Invalid votes 2,020 – – – – Total 1,422,205 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,134,052 34.4 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
March: Extending paid leave [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 489,995 34.8 2 0 2 Against 918,685 65.2 18 6 21 Blank votes 19,961 – – – – Invalid votes 1,729 – – – – Total 1,430,370 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,134,052 34.6 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
June: Right to life [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 448,016 31.0 4 3 5.5 Against 999,077 69.0 16 3 17.5 Blank votes 31,856 – – – – Invalid votes 1,523 – – – – Total 1,480,472 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,144,312 35.7 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
June: Stamp duty for banks [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 903,345 66.5 19 6 22 Against 454,560 33.5 1 0 1 Blank votes 100,995 – – – – Invalid votes 1,794 – – – – Total 1,460,694 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,144,312 35.2 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
June: Tax on spirits [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 982,318 72.3 19 6 22 Against 376,135 27.7 1 0 1 Blank votes 100,479 – – – – Invalid votes 1,839 – – – – Total 1,460,771 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,144,312 35.2 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 787,156 57.0 16 5 18.5 Against 592,751 43.0 4 1 4.5 Blank votes 82,030 – – – – Invalid votes 1,697 – – – – Total 1,463,634 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,144,312 35.3 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Co-ordinating the start of the School year [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 984,463 58.8 14 4 16 Against 688,459 41.2 6 2 7 Blank votes 30,555 – – – – Invalid votes 2,223 – – – – Total 1,705,700 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,160,547 41.0 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Innovations [ edit ] Choice Votes % For 695,288 43.1 Against 917,507 56.9 Blank votes 84,782 – Invalid votes 2,639 – Total 1,700,216 100 Registered voters/turnout 4,160,547 40.9 Source: Nohlen & Stöver
September: Changes to the Civil Code [ edit ] Choice Votes % For 921,743 54.7 Against 762,619 45.3 Blank votes 23,290 – Invalid votes 2,223 – Total 1,709,875 100 Registered voters/turnout 4,160,547 41.1 Source: Nohlen & Stöver
December: Banning vivisection [ edit ] Choice Popular vote Cantons Votes % Full Half Total For 459,358 29.5 0 0 0 Against 1,099,122 70.5 20 6 23 Blank votes 21,118 – – – – Invalid votes 2,680 – – – – Total 1,582,278 100 20 6 23 Registered voters/turnout 4,167,376 38.0 – – – Source: Nohlen & Stöver