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SWITZERLAND
Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale (National Council)
ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral Law 17 December 1976
Last amendment: 22/03/1991
Mode of designation directly elected 200
Constituencies 26 multi- or single-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 26 cantons. The number of seats per constituency varies according to population.
Voting system Mixed: Mixed system:
- proportional representation using the Hagenbach-Bischoff method, with remaining seats being distributed according to the rule of highest average, in multi-member constituencies. Each elector can vote for a list as it stands or modify it by crossing out or repeating names appearing on it; he can moreover split his vote between different lists ("panachage") or select names from different lists in forming his own on a blank ballot paper
- single majority system for 5 single-member constituencies
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the "next-in-line" candidates on the same party list or through by-elections in single-member constituencies.
Voting is compulsory in a small number of cantons, where those abstaining without a justifiable reason are subject to a small fine.
Voter requirements - Age: 18 years
- Swiss citizenship
- Disqualifications: insanity
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - Every citizen having the right to vote
Incompatibilities - Members of the Federal Council
- Federal judges
- Federal civil servants
- High-ranking army officials
Candidacy requirements - Nomination by political parties
- Support of 100 electors for each party list in cantons electing 2 to 10 seats, 200 in cantons electing 11 to 20 seats and of 400 in cantons electing more than 20 seats.

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