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Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1920.^[1] The first three were held on 21 March on a federal law on regulating employment contracts, a ban on creating gambling establishments and a counterproposal to the ban.^[1] The fourth was held on 16 May on membership of the League of Nations (of which Switzerland had become a founding member the previous year),^[2] whilst the fifth was held on 31 October on a federal law on working times on railways and other transport services.^[1] Three of the five referendums, on the ban on gambling establishments, League of Nations membership and the law on working times, were passed.^[1]

Background

The referendum on joining the League of Nations was a mandatory referendum, whilst the ban on gambling establishments was a popular initiative.^[1] Together with the counter-proposal, all three required a double majority; a majority of the popular vote and majority of the cantons.^[3] The decision of each canton was based on the vote in that canton.^[3] Full cantons counted as one vote, whilst half cantons counted as half.^[3] The referendums on employment contracts and working times were optional referendums,^[1] which required only a majority of the public vote.^[3]

According to a contemporary analysis, support and opposition for joining the League of Nations were organized along the following lines:

Acceptance of membership in the league was strongly favored by the powerful Independent Democratic (Radical) party, the Liberal Democratic (Protestant Conservative) party, the recently formed anti-bolshevist Peasants' party, the Christian Social party, and the Griitlianer. The Catholic Conservatives were divided, some of their most eminent leaders, both lay and clerical, being found in opposing camps. The Socialists who have accepted bolshevism leadership fought the league with all their accustomed arguments and bitterness. Curiously enough, the same attitude was taken by a group of the higher officers of the Swiss army, led by Ulrich Wille, the former general in chief. Party lines were more or less cut across, however, by racial, linguistic, religious and personal prejudices.^[2]

Results

Federal law on regulating employment contracts

Choice	Votes	%
For	254,455	49.8
Against	256,401	50.2
Blank votes	36,755	–
Invalid votes	30,396	–
Total	578,007	100
Registered voters/turnout	957,386	60.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Ban on creating gambling establishments

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	276,021	55.3	13	2	14
Against	223,122	44.7	6	4	8
Blank votes	23,138	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	45,538	–	–	–	–
Total	567,819	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	957,386	59.3	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Counterproposal on gambling establishments

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	122,240	26.1	0	1	0.5
Against	345,327	73.9	19	5	21.5
Blank votes	23,138	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	45,538	–	–	–	–
Total	536,243	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	957,386	56.0	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

League of Nations membership

Choice	Popular vote		Cantons
Choice	Votes	%	Full	Half	Total
For	416,870	56.3	10	3	11.5
Against	323,719	43.7	9	3	10.5
Blank votes	6,502	–	–	–	–
Invalid votes	4,039	–	–	–	–
Total	751,130	100	19	6	22
Registered voters/turnout	968,327	77.6	–	–	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Federal law on working time

Choice	Votes	%
For	369,466	57.1
Against	277,342	42.9
Blank votes	8,618	–
Invalid votes	1,487	–
Total	656,913	100
Registered voters/turnout	964,587	68.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1908 ISBN 9783832956097
^ ^a ^b Brooks, Robert C. (1920). "Swiss Referendum on the League of Nations". American Political Science Review. 14 (3): 477–480. doi:10.2307/1946268. ISSN 0003-0554.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Nohlen & Stöver, p1891